1 Thaler    (sold for $330.0)

1776, Frankfurt (Free City). Silver "Bridge at Hausen Opening" Thaler Coin. AU++

Denomination: Thaler Mint year: 1776 (1-year type!) Mint Place: Frankfurt (Free City) Reference: Davenport 2227, KM-256. Mint Offiicials: Bunsen & Neumeister (B-N). Condition: Minor planchet imperfection/defect (mint-made), ohterwise a nice AU++ with nice toning! Weight: 28.02gm Diameter: 41mm Material: Silver

Obverse: Illuminated triangle with all-seeing god´s eye above three allegoric figures (Tyche personificating Frankfurt standing beneath arms of Frankfurt, flanked by two river dieties, male and female. The female holding a bridge (the Bridge at Hausen) the other one a prow. Symbols of trade and geografy beneath two jars from which the rivers Nied and Main are flowing out. Motto above, name of the city below. Legend: A DEO ET CAESARE ("For God and King!") Exergue: FRANCFURT Reverse: Turreted crown on wreath, which contains inscription in four lines. Fine mark value above, date (1776) below, flanked by initials of the mint-official and rosettes. Legend: AD NORMAM CONVENTIONIS / X. EINE FEINE MARCK / . B * 1776 * N .

Frankfurt was one of the most important cities in the Holy Roman Empire. From 855 the German kings and emperors were elected in Frankfurt and crowned in Aachen. From 1562 the kings/emperors were also crowned in Frankfurt, Maximilian II being the first. This tradition ended in 1792, when Franz II was elected. His coronation was deliberately held on Bastille Day, 14 July, the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. The elections and coronations took place in St. Bartholomäus cathedral, known as the Kaiserdom (en: Emperor's Cathedral), or in its predecessors.

The Frankfurter Messe (Frankfurt Trade Fair) was first mentioned in 1150. In 1240, Emperor Friedrich II granted an Imperial privilege to its visitors, meaning they would be protected by the Empire. Book trade fairs have been held in Frankfurt since 1478.

In 1372 Frankfurt became a Reichsstadt (en:Imperial city), i.e. directly subordinate to the Holy Roman Emperor and not to a regional ruler or a local nobleman.