Saxony, Albertine line
August (1553-1586), Thaler 1580, Dresden mint
Obverse: bare-headed and armored half-length bust right, holding sword over shoulder
AVGVSTVS D G DVX SAXO SA ROMA IMP
Reverse: Electoral coat-of-arms surmounted by three crested helmets
ARCHIMARS CHAL ET ELEC
Weight 28.69 g
August was one of the few European princes who managed to save the treasury in the 16th century. He owed this to the efforts of his chamberlain, Hans Harrer. During his reign, the Albertine Saxony experienced an economic and social boom. He tried to become independent from Saxon state estates. He developed sovereign administrative structures and reorganized the judiciary. As part of his far-reaching reforms, he also reorganized the mint system. The state mint in Freiberg had to cease its activity in 1556 despite protests from the council of Freiberg. The Elector first transferred the Annaberg Mint to a local monastery in 1557 and then merged it with the Dresden Mint in 1558. The Schneeberg Mint operated until 1571. The Elector closed the long-standing mint in Leipzig in 1571. Thanks to this, the mint in Dresden became the only mint in the Saxon electorate, and thanks to its location near the palace of Augustus, he himself could oversee the correctness of all processes.
