Teutonic Order Pfennig

The Teutonic Order's Pfennig doubled as a tool of propaganda, often bearing a cross that asserted their claim over newly conquered Prussian lands.

These small silver coins, typically weighing less than a gram, were minted in various temporary sites as the Order expanded. Inscriptions in crude Latin or German script named the master or the mint, like Elbing or Danzig. That variability makes tracking them a headache for anyone who's spent decades pawing through hoards.

We don't know exact mintages; records from that era are scarce, likely destroyed in later conflicts. What survives shows the Pfennig's design evolved from simple to more ornate, reflecting the Order's growing influence.

Some specimens turn up with edge nicks, probably from barter in remote villages. As for myths, I've heard enough about cursed coins to fill a cellar—let's just say not every dent hides a tale of knights.