Town hall (1)

In 1764, Günzburg was chosen as the site for a Habsburg mint. Key factors influencing this decision included its favorable location within the transportation and communication networks of the time, the available water power from the Günz River and its tributaries, and its proximity to Augsburg, where the required coin metal was sourced.

The building, designed by Joseph Dossenberger and completed in 1767, housed four so-called spindle presses in a large hall on the ground floor, primarily used to mint silver coins. The upper floors were occupied by the administrative offices. One of the most enduring coins in monetary history was also produced here: the Maria Theresa Thaler. This coin remained legal tender in Ethiopia until 1945, largely due to its unchanged fine weight of 23.389 grams and its silver content of 833.333 parts per thousand.

Copper coins were produced in a second mint facility, located outside the city walls alongside a hammer mill and a silver refinery. The minting operation came to an end in October 1805 when French troops occupied Günzburg, and shortly afterward, the city became Bavarian. Since 1809, the former mint building has served as the town hall, though extensive renovations have significantly altered its interior.