The states bind themselves not to issue divisional coins in excess of such pro rata requirements as above.
"14. For the divisional coinage the standard of the convention of Munich, 1837 (viz. 27 gulden), is adopted.
"18. The treaty to endure till the end of 1858. States intending to retire then to give two years' notice. From that date, if not discarded, the treaty to be periodically renewed (five-yearly)."
This treaty continued in force nominally until the later and still more famous convention of Vienna in 1857, before which date Hanover, Brunswick, and Oldenburg had also given in their adherence to it.
At the time of the Mint Conference and Convention of Vienna, therefore, there were, broadly speaking, three competing systems in Germany, viz. of Austria, Prussia, and South Germany or Bavaria.
One aspect of this latter conference of 1857, viz. Page 208 its deliberations with regard to gold coinage, will be referred to separately. As far as relates to its attempted systematisation of these three German currencies the agreement took the following form:—
- The pound of 500 grammes decimally subdivided, to be used as the basis of the coinage.
- The competing systems to be assimilated to this basis by the following regulation:—
The thaler (or Prussian) standard of 30 thalers to the pound of silver to take the place of the 14-thaler standard, and to prevail in Prussia, Saxony, Hanover, Hesse, and a string of minor states.
The Austrian standard to be on the basis of 45 guldens out of a pound of fine silver, and to prevail in the Empire of Austria and