Right of coinage

The Münzregal was the sovereign right of coinage, in the Middle Ages in the Holy Roman Empire, in other words the right to issue regulations governing the production and use of coins. It covered the specification of currency, the right to mint and the right to use coins and the profit from minting. It is variously referred to in English sources as the "right of coinage", "coinage regality", "regality of coinage", "minting privileges" and "coinage prerogative". It was one of the regalia, or royal privileges.

Since the time of Charlemagne the Münzregal under the Frankish crown, was based on the practice of ancient Rome which exerted a strong central authority. The royal administration was also responsible for the construction and operation of the mints, the standard of coinage and the coinage.

With the sharp upturn in the economy from the 9th century, the Münzrecht, often associated with customs and market rights, was delegated to ecclesiastical rulers, mainly bishops. From the 11th century, it was also granted to secular princes, and later to towns or cities.

With the Golden Bull of 1356 were the Münzregal and the often closely associated mining rights or Bergregal were transferred to the prince electors. In 1648, other imperial estates (Reichsstände) were granted the Münzregal. Nevertheless, the sovereignty over coinage officially remained with the Holy Roman Emperor.

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