The groschen was a coin used in various German speaking states. The name derives from the Italian denaro grosso, or large penny.
See also Grosch, Silbergroschen, Neugroschen.
Germany
In
Germany, the name Groschen replaced
Schilling as the common name for a 12
Pfennig coin. In the 18th Century it was used predominantly in the northern states as a coin worth 1/24 of a
Reichsthaler (equal to 1/32 of a
Conventionsthaler). In the 19th century, beginning in
1821 in
Prussia, a new currency system was introduced in which the Groschen (often called the Silbergroschen or Neugroschen to distinguish it from older Groschen) was worth 1/30 of a
Thaler. Following German unification and decimalization, the Groschen was replaced by the 10
Pfennig coin and Groschen remained a nickname for the 10 Pfennig coin until the introduction of the
Euro.
Austria
| Groschen |
| Austrian 10 Groschen coin(1994) |
Austria introduced the Groschen in 1924 as the subdivision of the
Schilling. It was restored, along with the Schilling, in 1945 and continued in use until the introduction of the Euro.
German currencies | Modern obsolete currencies