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AR Pfennig (1531, Nördlingen mint)
O/ Two coats of arms; 1531 above; N below.
R/ Flat reverse.
14mm; 0.24g
Eberhard IV, count of Eppstein-Königstein (1505-1535):
The Eppsteins were a noble family from a small town in the northwest of Frankfurt. Thanks to a wise matrimonial policy, they expanded rapidly and became quite influential in the area, since five archbishops of Mainz came from their ranks. In 1505, as a result of their growing authority, the Emperor Maximilian granted the title of Count of Eppstein, Königstein, and Münzenberg to the three Epstein brothers, respectively Eberhard, George and Philip.
Unfortunately for the Eppstein brothers, they all remained childless. After the death of Eberhard IV in 1535, the Eppstein properties were inherited by the counts of Stolberg.
Nördlingen is located in Bavaria, very close to Württemberg. The mint was inherited by the House of Eppstein from the House of Weinsberg, whose last heir had died in 1507. It however seems that Nördlingen remained a free city; Eberhard did not control it - only the mint.
The chevrons in the coats of arms on the right stand for the Eppstein family, and the red and gold fields for the Falkenstein family, defunct since 1418, but whose properties were inherited by the Eppsteins. The coats of arms in the left is that of Nördlingen, simply showing the black imperial eagle, since Nördlingen was a free city.
Collection : Holy Roman Empire