Value of Thaler in 1602?
Hello - one of my ancestors in Niedersachsen was fined 15 Thalers plus 4 Thalers Weingeld. He lived in Höckel, near Voltlage, in the diocese of Osnabrück. (Er bekam eine Stafe von "15 Thlr und 4 Thlr Weingelder." Can anyone tell me something about the value of 15 Thalers at that time? For example, was this enough to buy a cow, a house, etc? And what is a Weingeld - was that a fine to be paid in wine? I've tried to research but couldn't find anything helpful.
Many thanks
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Hello Liz,
This is an interesting question. The Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1225 until 1803. Coinage in the Holy Roman Empire is confusing as many of the member states issued their own coinage at various times throughout the existence of the Empire.
I found the following link, which is for prices and wages in the Holy Roman Empire mostly in the early 18th century, about 100 years after what you are requesting, but this may give you some idea of what things cost circa 1700: http://pierre-marteau.com/wiki/index.php?title=Holy_Roman_Empire:Prices_and_Wages
This includes agricultural products (including the cost of a calf and a cow), wages, and fines.
Abbreviations used in this article:
"Rthl." = Reichsthaler.
"gr." = Groschen.
"pf." =Pfennig.
You can assume increasing prices and inflation from 1600 to 1700. I also don't know if the Thaler used in Osnabrück in 1602 is the same as the later Reichsthaler.
The following link may also prove useful, especially the sections "Holy Roman Empire" and "Chronology of thaler development": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaler
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Hi again, Liz,
The following article may also provide an overview of the complicated currency situation in Europe in 1632, closer to the time frame you were asking about: https://1632.org/1632-tech/faqs/money-exchange-rates-1632/
Scan through the article and note the section on "Germany and Bohemia" and the "Summary Table" which may provide some additional insight.
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Re: Weingeld
Grimm Brothers' Deutsches Wörterbuch defines "Weingeld" as: (1) money intended for and spent on wine; (2) a levy on wine.
Pfälziches Wörterbuch defines "Wein-geld" as: money from the sale of wine.
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Thank you for sharing this information Robert. I like the statement that currency in Germany in the 17th C was a bottomless pit !
It sounds like 15 Thalers could have been a not-insignificant amount of money, especially for a farmer who didn't have a lot of cash. This helps.
Regarding Weingeld, I haven't seen any mention of growing grapes in northern Germany during this period, and wonder if Weingeld could have had a more general meaning.
You are always so helpful - I really appreciate it!
Best Regards
Liz
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You're welcome, Liz. I agree that a fine of 15 Thalers in 1602 would be burdensome for a farmer.
Sincere regards, Robert
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