Replica of Joseph I ducat standard

A jubilee coinage marking the 300^th anniversary of the accession to the throne

Accession of Joseph I to the throne in 1705 promised well and roused expectations. The Emperor restricted the influence of Jesuits at the court and surrounded himself with reform politicians. He also supported development of production and trade in the spirit of mercantilism. In the area of coinage, Joseph I continued in the system implemented by his predecessor Leopold I of 1694. He just made an effort to regulate the circulation of a low-quality Bavarian coin on his territories. During his rule he fought at several front-lines for so-called Spanish heirloom, against Hungarian rebels led by Francis II Rakoczi and against the Turks. He died suddenly of small pox during peace talks with the upsurged Hungarians. As Joseph I had no male heir, he was succeeded by his younger brother Charles VI who was originally predestined to reign in the Spanish heirloom.