(sold for $13.0)

1675, Brunswick-Luneburg-Calenberg, John Frederick I. Silver Mariengroschen Coin. R!

Condition: About XF!
Mint Place: Clausthal
Reference: KM-164. R!
Mint Year: 1675 (not dated)
Denomination: Mariengroschen
Diameter: 14mm
Material: Silver
Weight: 0.58gm

Obverse: Crowned and togate standing figure of the Virgin (Madonna), holding baby Jesus child. Illuminating flames/light at sides.

Reverse: Value (*I*), denomination (MARI./GR.) in three lines.
Legend: * IOAN . FR . D . G . D . BR . ET . LU

John Frederick (German: Johann Friedrich; 25 April 1625, Herzberg am Harz – 18 December 1679, Augsburg) was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Principality of Calenberg, a subdivision of the duchy, from 1665 until his death.

The third son of George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, John converted to the Roman Catholic Church as the only member of his family in 1651. He received Calenberg when his elder brother George William inherited the Principality of Lüneburg. In 1666, he had a palace built in Herrenhausen near Hanover that was inspired by the Palace of Versailles and is famous for its gardens, the Herrenhausen Gardens.

In 1676, John Frederick employed Leibniz as Privy Councillor and librarian of the important ducal library. Thus began Leibniz's 40 year association with the House of Hanover, which resulted in three generations of Hanovers being patrons to the most brilliant man in Europe.

He employed the Venetian architect Girolamo Sartorio as his master builder in 1667, who designed many buildings in the town including the Neustädter Kirche and was instrumental in the expansion of the Herrenhausen Gardens.