Money in the German-speaking Lands

Money is more than just a medium of financial exchange: across time and place, it has performed all sorts of cultural, political, and social functions. This volume traces money in German-speaking Europe from the late Renaissance until the close of the twentieth century, exploring how people have used it and endowed it with multiple meanings. The fascinating studies gathered here collectively demonstrate money’s vast symbolic and practical significance, from its place in debates about religion and the natural world to its central role in statecraft and the formation of national identity.

Mary Lindemann is Professor Emerita in the Department of History, University of Miami.

Jared Poley is Professor and Chair, Department of History, Georgia State University.

“This volume, with the essays’ rich bibliographies, is an excellent resource for scholars and teachers of both undergraduates and graduate students who wish to engage in historical reflection on the issues [of money in German lands].” • German Studies Review

“This volume… offers much more than its narrowly framed title subject ‘money’ might imply… Although these essays range far and wide in pursuing German attitudes about wealth, there is also plenty of material here for readers interested in German economic and financial history.” • German History

“This fascinating collection of essays brings together empirical and theoretical case studies that are clear, accessible, and succinct. It also serves as an excellent primer on some of the most cutting-edge research on German history being undertaken by Anglophone scholars.” • Philipp Roessner, University of Manchester