A rarer variety with the date above the coat of arms, in the center of the reverse and without the letter B, the mint master's mark.
Saxony-Weimar, Ernestine line
Friedrich Wilhelm I and Johann III (1573-1603), Thaler 1597, Saalfeld mint
Obverse: confronted half-length busts of Friedrich and Johann
D G FRIDE WILH ADM ET IOHAN FRA DVCES SAXO
Reverse: coat of arms with the date in the middle, around 12 coats of arms
LANTG THVRI ET MARCHIO MISN MON IMPERI
Weight 28.82 g
Friedrich Wilhelm I was Duke of Saxony-Weimar and the eldest son of Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxony-Weimar, and Dorothea Susanne of Simmern. At the time of his father's death in 1573, Friedrich Wilhelm was still underage and a regency was established for this purpose. In 1586, Friedrich Wilhelm was recognized as an adult and began independent rule in Saxony-Weimar. Five years later, in 1591, Elector Christian I died, and his eldest son Christian II became his successor. As the new elector was still underage, the regency of the electorate was entrusted to Sofia Brandenburg, widow of Christian I and mother of the heir to the throne. When she became regent, Friedrich Wilhelm was asked for help and received the title of "Administrator des Sächsischen Kurstaates" (administrator of the Saxon electorate). He settled in Torgau and neglected the authority of his principality. The current affairs of the principality were conducted by his brother Johann in 1601, his regency in the Saxon electorate ended, and Friedrich Wilhelm returned to Weimar. Since he died a year later, he did not go down too much in the history of the principality.
