Christian Ludwig was the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, located in northern Germany and encompassing Rostock and Wismar. At the time this multiple taler was struck, the German states were largely ruled by Duchies. The Duke Christian Ludwig ruled from 1648 until his death in 1665. He became duke just following the peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War. Despite peace in the region, his reign was marked by political challenges including those created by the war. His legacy is viewed mostly as a transitional time period with some improvements in the area of culture and education.

Talers were the standard monetary denomination of the time. The need for multiple talers became evident when larger purchases or inflation effected the area. These lovely large coins were visually arresting with images that could use mythology to tell a larger story. The obverse of this coin clearly shows the Dukes initials (CL) and is surrounded by his coat of arms. The mint master Henning Schlüter has his initials at 6h along with a cartouche stamp. The reverse has a wonderful image of a "Wildman" holding a tree trunk in his hand. the trunk emphasizes the massive size of the man holding it. The Wildman is an allusion to freedom, strength and the connection to nature.