Money Changer’s Coin Scales — Johann Daniel Vom Berg

Money changer’s coin scales

Admire Johann Daniel vom Berg’s 1700 ‘Money changer’s coin scales.’ A detailed, realistic depiction of a Frankfurt trade instrument. Explore German craftsmanship & historical currency.


johann daniel vom berg (1733 - 1804)

Explore the works of Johann Daniel vom Berg (1733-1804), a renowned German clockmaker known for intricate designs & precision craftsmanship. Discover his legacy.

Jewish Museum Frankfurt (Frankfurt, Germany)

Explore 900 years of Jewish history & culture at Germany's oldest independent Jewish Museum! Discover the Rothschild Palace, Europe’s first ghetto, and poignant Holocaust memorials in Frankfurt.

Many money changers worked in the Judengasse Frankfurt. Because the value of coins was based on the weight of the metal, scales were the money changers’ most important instrument. Because Jews often worked in professions dealing with money transactions, they were generally very familiar with the various types of money in circulation. For a fee they would weigh the foreign coins and convert them into the required currency.