Two years later, 1669, the three Higher Circles determined, as a measure of protection to their gold, to alter the ratio, and for that purpose to reduce the thaler from 96 to 90 kreutzers again, while leaving the ducat = 3 florins, and the gold gulden = 2 florins 20 kreutzers.
The mark of fine silver was thus = 3 fl. 30 kr. " gold " = 204 " (Ratio = 15-1/9.)
The divisional coins were to be minted on a graduated and enhanced standard. Thus--
6-kr. and 4-kr. pieces (Batzen), at 13 fl. 55 kr. to the mark fine. Groschen (3 kr.) at 14 fl. 10 " " Kreutzer at 14 fl. 40 " " Pfennige (3760 to the mark fine), at 15 fl. 43 " "
There were thus three contemporary systems in Germany in 1670--
1. Reichs thaler, at 90 kr., mark of fine silver at 13 fl. 30 kr. 2. " at 96 " " at 14 fl. 24 " 3. " at 105 " " at 15 fl. 45 "
The three Upper Circles, however, could not maintain their last enacted order. In spite of its enactment, the Reichs thaler rose again to 96 kreutzers, and the ducat to 3 florins 12 kreutzers.
The confusion and general harm which resulted has been referred to in the text (p. 199), and it is to be regarded simply as a stop-gap at any cost that the measure proposed by the Three Circles of fixing the thaler at 90 kreutzers was carried through the Reichstag of 1680.
From this system, however, the Emperor, with Bavaria and Salzburg, stood apart, putting the Reichs thaler at 96 kreutzers; and ten years later, 1690, Saxony, Brandenburg, and Brunswick and Lüneburg established again a distinct system--the well-known Leipzig standard.
By this system the Reichs thaler was set at 120 kreutzers or 2 florins (mark of fine silver = 12 thalers 18 gulden).
In a few years this valuation of the thaler prevailed all over the Empire. Sweden acceded to it in 1690, with Bremen and Pomerania, Mainz, Treves, the Palatinate, and Frankfort, and three years later the Higher Circles followed suite. Contemporaneously the gold gulden was advanced to 2 florins 56 kreutzers.
Although the Emperor subsequently joined in the recognition of the Leipzig standard, it did not remain effective in actual practice, and while no further advance of the thaler was officially recognised, the lower denominations were again depreciated by the Mint competition of the various states, 10-kreutzer pieces being minted on a standard of 20-1/3 to 21-1/3 gulden to the mark fine. In 1736 the question of a standard was again brought before the Reichstag; and on the 10th September 1738 it was resolved to adopt the Leipzig standard for the Empire, with the Reichs thaler = 2 florins, ducat = 4 florins, gold gulden = 3 florins; while, for the divisional coins, a basis of fine mark silver = 13-2/3 thaler was enacted.