German States. Schwäbisch Hall (Württemberg).

Saurma 1365/608, Raff 13, DeWitt 2491, Torongo 1.5.

AR handheller, minted ca. 1250-1356, 16-17 mm.

Obv: Open right hand.

Rev: Cross forchée with a pellet at the end of each arm.

Since they were struck in 1189 at Hall in Swabia, these coins became known as "hellers" (or as handhellers, due to the devise on the obverse). They were struck in large quantities but of a poor quality, and circulated widely, quickly droving all other small coins out of circulation. The name "heller" became associated with coins of the same type struck in other cities, and by extension, to coins of low grade billon throughout Germany. Until an imperial edict of 1356 required mintmarks, the issuing city of any given coin cannot be determined. The lack of a mintmark on this coin indicates that it was struck before 1356.The slightly raised square on the reverse (quadratum supercusum) indicates that this coin was struck after c. 1250. That square is the result of a minting technique in which the silver was cut into angular rather than round flans, which were easier to make and resulted in no scrap metal. After minting, the corners of the reverse of the coin was hammered four times. This rounded out the corners, but reduced the thickness of the flan, except in the center, which retained its original thickness. Coins minted in this manner are known as vierschlagpfennig.

The obverse devise also appears on the coat-of-arms of Hall, and it is not clear whether or not the coin preceded the coat-of-arms. The word "handel" means trade or commerce in German, and the hand may be a pun.