Rhenish gulden

The Rhenish gold gulden was created when the electors of Cologne, Trier and Mainz were rewarded for their support in the election of Charles IV with a right to mint gold coins (Goldmünzprivileg), a right derived from the Golden Bull.

[1] As a result of the widespread minting of gold guldens by the electors of Cologne, Mainz, Trier and the Electorate of the Palatinate (Rhine Minting Association), Rhenish guldens achieved significance in the 14th and 15th centuries and became the base currency of the Rhine region.

[2] Rhenish gold guldens were of central importance to the German monetary system until modern times.

It developed into the most common long-distance trading coin in Bohemia, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, Moravia, the Netherlands, Spain and France.

The annual rent in the Augsburg Fuggerei is to this day a Rhenish gulden (€0.88 today).