The Worlds Firts Government Issued Anti-Semitic Coin -- 1149

In the twelfth century, the Holy Roman Emperor granted minting privileges to both the civil and clerical authorities in various regions. One such center in the eastern part of Germany was the community of Halberstadt.

The coins of the period in that region of the world were struck on thin metal, so thin that the material could take but one impression and so thin that this one impression was positive on one side and negative on the reverse. Today all of the coiris of this group are known as bracteates.

Bishop Ulrich I, who ruled from 1149-1160 and again from 1177-1190 issued a silver pfennig, a coin about the size of today's quarter, believed to be used for tax purposes rather than for ordinary commerce. His theme was Biblical.

From the New Testament he selected the story of the stoning by Jews of St. Stephen in the first century

In the Bishop's time 1000 years later, Jews of the area were required by law to wear conical hats so that they were clearly distinguishable from the rest of the citizenry. The mintmaster for the Bishop presents two Jews with their cone-shaped hats, their medieval garb, a falling St. Stephen and the rocks. A halo makes it clear that St. Stephen has been canonized for his martrydom.