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         >> Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
PRINCIPALITY OF SCHWARZBURG-SONDERSHAUSEN.
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was a small principality in Germany, in the present day state of Thuringia. Its capital was Sondershausen.
The house of Schwarzburg is one of the oldest and noblest in Germany; and tradition traces its descent from Widukind and the kings of the Franks. Its historical ancestors were the counts of Kafernburg, from whom the counts of Schwarzburg sprang about the beginning of the 13th century. The name Günter became the distinctive name for the members of this house (corresponding to Heinrich in the Reuss family), the various Günthers being at first distinguished by numbers and afterwards by prefixed names. Various subdivisions and collateral lines were formed, but by 1599 all were extinct but the present two. Count Günther XL., who died in 1552, was the last common ancestor of both lines. Schwarzburg-Sondershausen is the senior line, although its possessions are the smaller.
In 1697 the count was raised to the dignity of imperial prince by the emperor Leopold I. The prince had to pay 7000 thalers to the elector of Saxony and 3500 to the duke of Saxe-Weimar, and numerous disputes arose in connexion with the superiorities thus indicated.
In 1807 Schwarzburg-Sondershausen entered the Confederation of the Rhine and became a sovereign state. In 1816 it joined the German League, and redeemed with portions of its territory all rights of superiority claimed by Prussia. Its domestic government has gradually, though not very quickly, improved since that time – the oppressive game-laws in particular having been abolished. A treaty of mutual succession was made between the two families in 1713. Prince Charles Günter succeeded on the 17th of July 1880, his father having on account of eye disease renounced the throne in favour of his son. By a law, promulgated in 1896, Sizzo, prince of Leutenberg, was recognized as the heirpresumptive to this principality and, by treaty with Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, to that principality also.
The principality joined the North German Confederation in 1866 and became a member state in the German Empire in 1871.
The ruler, who struck coins (in Germany Empire):
• Reign: 1880 – 28.03.1909 – Karl Günther (born: 1830 – died: 28.03.1909).

www.1911encyclopedia.org.

	Denomination: 2 Mark Year: 1896 Material: Silver Description: Obverse: Portrait of the Prince Karl Günter (1880 – 1909) right. Semicircular inscription: KARL GÜNTHER FÜRST Z. SCHWARZB SONDERSH. Beneath it – mint mark 'A' (Berlin). Reverse: The arms of the country with a so-called big eagle, above it – the German imperial crown; on a breast of an eagle – board with the arms of Prussia, around it – a Prussian award of the Black Eagle with a circuit. Semicircular inscription: DEUTSCHES REICH 1896 ∙ ZWEI MARK. 900 standard silver (Ag 900, Cu 100). Diameter – 28 mm. Weight – 11.111 g. Edge – 140 corrugations, thickness 2.1 mm. Mintage: 50 000. This type of coin was in circulation in Ukraine from end of April to the middle of November, 1918. FMM hasn’t got this coin yet. Country or town: Germany
Click to enlarge!	Denomination: 2 Mark Year: 1905 Material: Silver Description: Jubilee coin, dedicated to 25th Anniversary of Karl Günter Reign. 1880 – 1905. Obverse: Portrait of the Prince Karl Günter (1880 – 1909) right. Semicircular inscription: KARL GÜNTHER FÜRST Z. SCHWARZB SONDERSH, beneath it – laurel branch, date 1880 – 1905 and mint mark 'A' (Berlin). Thin rim. Reverse: The arms of the country with a so-called big eagle, above it – the German imperial crown; on a breast of an eagle – board with the arms of Prussia, around it – a Prussian award of the Black Eagle with a circuit. Semicircular inscription: DEUTSCHES REICH 1905 ∙ ZWEI MARK. 900 standard silver (Ag 900, Cu 100). Diameter – 28 mm. Weight – 11.111 g. Edge – 140 corrugations, thickness 2.1 mm. Mintage: 62 000. This type of coin was in circulation in Ukraine from end of April to the middle of November, 1918. Country or town: Germany
	Denomination: 2 Mark Year: 1905 Material: Silver Description: Jubilee coin, dedicated to 25th Anniversary of Karl Günter Reign. 1880 – 1905. Obverse: Portrait of the Prince Karl Günter (1880 – 1909) right. Semicircular inscription: KARL GÜNTHER FÜRST Z. SCHWARZB SONDERSH, beneath it – laurel branch, date 1880 – 1905 and mint mark 'A' (Berlin). Thick rim. Reverse: The arms of the country with a so-called big eagle, above it – the German imperial crown; on a breast of an eagle – board with the arms of Prussia, around it – a Prussian award of the Black Eagle with a circuit. Semicircular inscription: DEUTSCHES REICH 1905 ∙ ZWEI MARK. 900 standard silver (Ag 900, Cu 100). Diameter – 28 mm. Weight – 11.111 g. Edge – 140 corrugations, thickness 2.1 mm. Mintage: 12 000. This type of coin was in circulation in Ukraine from end of April to the middle of November, 1918. FMM hasn’t got this coin yet. Country or town: Germany
	Denomination: 3 Mark Year: 1909 Material: Silver Description: Obverse: Portrait of the Prince Karl Günter (1880 – 1909) right. Semicircular inscription: KARL GÜNTHER FÜRST Z. SCHWARZB SONDERSH. Beneath it – mint mark 'A' (Berlin). Reverse: The arms of the country with a so-called big eagle, above it – the German imperial crown; on a breast of an eagle – board with the arms of Prussia, around it – a Prussian award of the Black Eagle with a circuit. Semicircular inscription: DEUTSCHES REICH 1909 ∙ DREI MARK. 900 standard silver (Ag 900, Cu 100). Diameter – 33 mm. Weight – 16.667 g., thickness 2.2 mm. Edge – plain, inscription: GOTT MIT UNS. Mintage: 50 000. This type of coin was in circulation in Ukraine from end of April to the middle of November, 1918. FMM hasn’t got this coin yet. Country or town: Germany

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