<b>The coins authorized by Ernst Ludwig's Grand Duchy of Hess-Darmstadt during the German Empire's (1871-1918) reign include two silver commemoratives in the denominations of 2 and 5 Mark. Both were struck at the Berlin Mint and honor the 400th Anniversary of Phillip the Magnificent. The 2 Mark measures 28mm, weighs in at 0.3215 ounce Actual Silver Weight. The 5 Mark silver coin measures 38mm and weighs 0.8037 ounce ASW. Both coins bear the same designs; obverse features the jugate-style heads of Ludwig and Phillip facing left while the reverse bears the Crowned Imperial Eagle with Shield on Breast. To save time and space, I'm only presenting a photo of the 2 Mark courtesy of Anything Anywhere: HESSE-DARMSTADT 1904 3 MARK - 400TH ANNIVERSARY PHILLIP THE MAGNIFICENT The other two silver coins are 3 Mark coins measuring 33mm and weighing in at 0.4823 ounce. One was minted in 1910 with a striking of 200,000 business strikes and another 500 proofs for numismatists. The other was minted in 1917 with a production for circulation of 1,333 which includes an unknown amount of proofs. Both have the same designs; obverse features Ludwig facing left while the Crowned Imperial Eagle with Shield on Breast adorns the reverse. Here's a photo of the 1910 courtesy of Anything Anywhere: HESSE-DARMSTADT 1910 3 MARK - ERNST LUDWIG Ernst Ludwig also authorized the striking of gold 20 Mark coins. They were struck at Berlin for the following years: 1901 (80,000 circulation - 600 proofs) 1903 (40,000 circulation - 100 proofs) 1905 (45,000 circulation - 200 proofs) 1906 (85,000 circulation - 199 proofs) 1908 (40,000 circulation - unknown number of proofs) 1911 (150,000 circulation - unknown number of proofs) Here's a photo of a 1908-A gold 20 Mark courtesy of Coin Archives: HESSE-DARMSTASDT 1908-A GOLD 20 MARK Hope you enjoyed... Clinker
You may have noticed that on the coins the name of the grand duchy is simply "Hessen". That is because in the German Empire (monarchy 1871-1918) there was only one country by that name. The other Hessen, so to say ("Hessen-Kassel"), was one of the many countries that Prussia "swallowed" or annexed ... The anniversary pieces I find interesting for two reasons. First, note the Latin motto. "Verbum Domini manet in aeternum", which roughly translates to "the word of the Lord lasts forever", is closely connected to the Lutheran reformation particularly in Hessen. Philipp (the German "der Großmütige" I would rather translate to "the Magnanimous") was one of the first German rulers who supported the Reformation; he also founded the University of Marburg almost 400 years ago. Then, look at the font on that side - quite different from the characters on the eagle side. A little artsy maybe? Well, Ernst Ludwig supported and sponsored modern art, especially Jugendstil/Art Nouveau. In Darmstadt there is an entire quarter called the Mathildenhöhe Colony which in those years was an artists colony. The characteristic tower is named Wedding Tower because the architect dedicated it to Ernst Ludwig's 1905 wedding. Today everybody can get married there. By the way, Ernst Ludwig was of the rulers in Germany who did not "voluntarily" resign in the course of the 1918 revolution. He was thus deposed by the Workers and Soldiers Council ... Christian
Thanks Christian... for such great and important additional information, especially the translations... Clinker
