Schilling

The schilling is an important historical coin and currency unit in a numismatic context, which was minted and used in numerous European regions for centuries. The term ‘schilling’ is derived from the Old High German word ‘scilling,’ which originally referred to a unit of account or calculation. Its history dates back to the early Middle Ages, making it one of the longest-lived and most versatile coin denominations in Europe.
In the Frankish Empire under Charlemagne, the schilling was already a unit of account, but did not yet have an actual coin form. At that time, one schilling was equal to one twelfth of a silver denarius. This ratio – 1 denarius = 12 schillings – influenced numerous medieval currency systems in Central Europe. It was not until the High Middle Ages that schillings began to be minted as independent coins. The schilling became particularly widespread in the Holy Roman Empire, England and Scandinavian countries.
In German-speaking countries, the schilling was minted as a silver coin from the 13th century onwards. Regional variants such as the Lübeck schilling, the Hamburg schilling and the Bern schilling bear witness to its adaptation to local economies and coinage authorities. The schilling was usually made of silver and weighed between 1 and 2 grams. Its value and silver content could vary considerably depending on the time and place, making it an exciting subject of study for numismatists.
The shilling also played a central role in England. There, it was first minted in silver as the ‘shilling’ under Henry VII in 1504. The English shilling had a fixed value of 12 pence and was thus an important link in the pound-shilling-penny system (1 pound = 20 shillings = 240 pence). This currency unit remained in use until the decimalisation of the British pound in 1971, giving the shilling an impressive lifespan of over 450 years.
In Austria, the schilling is primarily known as a modern currency unit. After the end of the First World War, the Austrian schilling was introduced as the new national currency in 1925 to replace the inflation-weakened krone. Even after the Second World War, the schilling was reintroduced in 1945 and remained Austria’s official currency until the introduction of the euro in 2002. Modern Schilling coins, especially those issued between the 1950s and 1990s, are popular collectors’ items today.
In a numismatic context, the Schilling is a fascinating coin because it bridges the gap between the medieval system of calculation, regional coinage and modern monetary history. Schillings offer insights not only into historical value systems and coinage standards, but also into the economic and political self-image of the places where they were minted. Collectors particularly appreciate the variety of mintings, portraits, city coats of arms and regional features that schillings have produced over the centuries. The schilling is thus a true classic of European numismatics.