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      Chronograms on coins      

Chronogram is a phrase of which the roman-numeral letters (C,D,I,L,M,V,X) express a date when added together. (e.g. LorD haVe MerCIe Vpon Vs = 50+500+5+1000+100+1+5+5=1666). The order was irrelevant, the sequence IV stood for 1+5=6 and not for 4. On coins, the numerals are indicated in exaggerated capital Roman letters within the legend.
Chronograms were particularly popular in the Baroque Age although counting the numerals was tiresomeone and one had to struggle through obscure statements in scholars' Latin.

I = 1     V (U) = 5     X = 10     L = 50     C = 100     D = 500     M = 1000


City of Nuremberg.   4 ducats 1631,   off-metal strike of the taler.   Ø 42 mm
Lettered edge with chronogram:   VIVIDA PAX CHRISTI SERVET NOS TEMP=ORE TRISTI
"May the peace of the living Christ preserve us in these sad times" during the Thirty Years' War.
Enlarged letters :   VIVID XC I I V M I I = MDCVVVIIIIII = 1000+500+100+3x5+6x1 = 1631
There is a special technical detail on both sides of the coin. Really? Look at the next page for it.


August the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1635-1666.
Taler 1666, Zellerfeld.   On his death.     Ø 48 mm
The revers contains three chronograms:
1.    OMNIA NON NISI PROVIDO ET VEGETO CONSILIO     M+D+C+L+VV+IIIIII = 1666
("Everything only after careful and mature consideration.")
2a.QUAE LAETA FRONDE VIREBAM - NUNC -     M+D+C+L+VVV+I = 1666
2b.- RIGUI - SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI     M+D+C+L+VV+IIIIII = 1666
("Once I stood in abundant leaves, now I am bare. Thus passes the glory of the world.")


County of Stolberg,   Christof Friedrich and Jost Christian, 1704-1738.
mining 2/3 taler 1730.     Ø 37 mm
VVOHL DENEN DIE SEINE ZEVGNISSE HALTEN DIE IHN VON GANZEN HERZEN SVCHEN   Ps.19 Vers 2
VVLDDIIVILDIIVVC = DDD C LL VVVVV IIIII = 3x500+1x100+2x50+5x5+5x1 = 1730

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