bavarikon4UDoppeltaler des sächsischen Kurfürsten Christian II. unter der Vormundschaft von Friedrich Wilhelm I. aus dem Jahr 1596
Description
Picture on obverse: Christian II, Johann Georg and August portrayed in half-length poses side by side in different sizes, arranged according to the princes’ ages. Above them the orb, to the sides the year 15 - 96.
Writing on obverse: CHRISTIAN IOHAN GEORG ET AVGVSTVS
Picture on reverse: Coat of arms with three helmets, the mintmaster’s mark top right.
Writing on reverse: FRAT ET DV - CES SAXON
After the early death of Elector Christian I of Saxony (1560-1591, ruled from 1586), he was succeeded in 1591 by his eldest son, still a minor, as Saxon Elector Christian II (ruled 1591-1611). Initially still under the guardianship of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm I of Saxe-Weimar-Altenburg (ruled 1573-1602), Christian II acted as the mintmaster of a series of coins consisting of multiple talers, talers and partial talers depicting him together with his younger brothers. In the early modern coinage of Saxon electors, it was basically not uncommon for an elector’s brothers to be depicted on coins and/or named in the circumscription. However, as Christian II was hardly in a position to conduct the affairs of state on his own due to mental limitations, the "Dreibrüdertaler" (three brothers’ talers) minted until the end of his life in 1611 testify to the exceptional importance of his brothers during his rule. After he came of age, the obverse sides of the coins were left to the Elector on his own, while Johann Georg and Augustus were only depicted on the reverse sides. Christian II nevertheless remained dependent on advisers throughout his life.