About the event
When: Thursday 8 May, 12.30pm to 1.30pm
The first common currency of Germany was established in the mid-1500s by the 300 members of the Holy Roman Empire: this talk explores why they set aside the traditional monetary diversity of the country. There were a few similarities between the political framework of the Empire and modern supra-national organisations, and potential members faced similar trade-offs to modern countries who are considering a currency union. Yet the overall aim in the 16th century was quite different to modern currency unions, which are designed to help cross-border trade and economic integration. The talk explains what motivated the political actors of the time, when conditions were shaped by commodity money systems, a lack of currency borders, and increasing market integration.
Tickets: To secure your place, pick up a free ticket from the Museum’s Information Desk from 5pm on the day. Tickets are first come first serve, with no pre-booking available.
About the speaker
Oliver Volckart received his PhD from the Faculty of History of the Free University of Berlin and his habilitation from the Economics Faculty of Jena University. He is a professor at the Economic History Department of the London School of Economics and Political Science. The focus of his work is on premodern monetary policies and political economy.