Germany 4 Pfennig (1652–1673) – Karl Kasper von der Leyen – St. Peter with Key – NGC Certified

Own a certified 4 Pfennig coin struck in Germany between 1652 and 1673, during the rule of Karl Kasper von der Leyen, and authenticated by NGC. This copper issue blends ecclesiastical authority with spiritual symbolism, offering a rare and meaningful artifact of post-Reformation Europe.

Karl Kasper von der Leyen served as Archbishop-Elector of Trier, one of the most influential ecclesiastical principalities within the Holy Roman Empire. As both a prince and church leader, his coinage reflected the dual nature of his authority — temporal and spiritual.

The obverse of this coin typically depicts St. Peter, patron saint of the Church, standing and holding the key to heaven — a powerful symbol of apostolic authority and divine gatekeeping. This iconography not only reflects the religious status of the archbishopric but also reinforced Trier’s role as a guardian of Catholic orthodoxy during the turbulent era of religious conflict following the Thirty Years’ War.

The reverse often includes a Roman numeral date and inscriptions denoting the issuing territory or ecclesiastical rank. Coins of this type were small in denomination but rich in symbolic power, circulating throughout the Electorate and neighboring regions.

Certified by NGC, this 4 Pfennig coin of Karl Kasper von der Leyen is a tangible piece of Germany’s complex religious and political history — a coin that served both as currency and as a testament to the enduring influence of the Church.