I inherited this coin from my grandfather in 1975. I finally got around to taking a photo. Here it is with an attribution. It's the only coin of this era that I own; normally I'm into ancients. Does anyone here collect these types of coins? If so, please comment or share your own images: Ferdinand II; Holy Roman Emperor 1619–37. Free Imperial City of Frankfurt, AR taler, Frankfurt am Main mint, struck 1621. 42mm, 28.60g, 6h. Davenport 5289, J.u.F. 368b. Obv: MONETA: NOUA. REIP: FRANCOFURTENSIS; equilateral decorated cross; in the middle, an outwardly decorated shield with the Eagle of Frankfurt; date below, upside down. Rx: FERDINAND. II. ROM. IMP. SEMP: AUGUS; crowned double eagle with imperial orb on breast. Evidence of jewelry mount on rim. Toned VF.
I'm incredibly jealous! That is a beautiful and really cool coin. I have a small collection of coins from Frankfurt and will choose Frankfurt over other city coins when I'm looking for older German coinage. I'll look at them soon and try to post some others.
Thank you. That's a really cool coin you've got there, in such wonderful condition. I'm curious to see what else you have!
That is an interesting coin you have there, bender767. Nice piece. It was minted as the 30-years War (Dreißigjähriger Krieg, 1618-1648) had already been raging in Germany for 3 years. This was a tragic and murderous religious war in which a large proportion of the civilian population of the area of Germany were Frankfurt is located (Hessen) was killed as rival bands of soldiers plundered the countryside and bled it to death. The free City of Frankfurt was not left immune. Your coin is a silent witness to that tragic event... I also collect german state coins and have a some of them in my collection. I specially like those showing a view of the city of Frankfurt as seen from the River Main: Frankfurt - Taler 1772: Frankfurt - Doppeltaler 1841: Frankfurt - 6 Kreuzer 1853 (note the intricate detail on this tiny coin - about the size of a nickel)
Thank you so much for discussing the history of the area to give my coin some context. If you don't mind I'm going to copy/paste it and add it to the information I have about the coin. Your coins are beautiful. I find it interesting how the iconography changed so dramatically over time, so that the later coins of Frankfurt (18th and 19th centuries) show various "bird's-eye" views of the city. Almost as if they're promoting the city as a nice place to live or visit or do business with. I was able to attribute my coin and describe it relatively accurately based on a website I found a while back that was basically a catalog of the different free German city coins. If I can find it again I'll post the link. I think that this would be a cool collecting area. Especially if I was from Germany and had a more personal connection to them. Anyway, it's fascinating and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and your coins. Mike (benhur767)
