Germany in the 13th century was divided into numerous duchies and other states and struggles for power between these were common. At this time many of the dukes, counts, bishops and free cities all had their own mints producing coinage.During the Hohenstaufen period (12th - 13th century), one of the most important mints in south-west Germany was at Schwäbisch Hall. The mint was founded by Barbarossa in 1180.Coins with a hand on one side and a cross on the other were first struck at Schwäbisch Hall just before 1200. They were called 'hellers' from the name Hall, or 'handhellers' because of the hand design. Other towns and cities in South Germany started making coins of the same type and eventually 'heller' became the generic name for a low value coin in southern Germany, while 'pfennig' (meaning penny) was used further north.