Tiroler Kreuzer

The Tiroler Kreuzer was minted from copper extracted from the rich mines of the Tyrol Alps, a resource that kept the coins flowing despite frequent shortages elsewhere in Europe.

These coins, typically small and unadorned, bore the Tyrolean eagle or simple cross on one side, reflecting the region's pragmatic approach to currency. Production varied by ruler; some years saw strikes in Innsbruck, others in smaller mints that left little record. We know they served as everyday money for peasants and traders, but exact mintages are lost to time—perhaps burned in one of the many fires that plagued record-keepers back then.

One oddity: the Kreuzer's size made it easy to lose, turning up in the oddest places, like boot heels or pig sties. As for fakes, they were rampant, which is why I always check the edge with a loupe.