Due to the widespread increase in low-value coins, a change to the previous Zinna standard was essential.
In 1686, however, their previous treaty partner, Electoral Saxony, refused to change the standard.
Merchants at trade fairs in Leipzig and Brunswick accepted the new Brandenburg 2⁄3 thaler as the best money at the time.
The protests of Leipzig merchants forced the Saxon elector to withdraw the ban that same year.
In this letter, Brandenburg threatened to close its mints because the price of silver had risen to at least 11 thalers, 8 groschen for a fine mark and a flood of inferior money had then set in along with the further spread of illegal mints (Heckenmünzstätten).