20 Mark    (sold for $401.0)

1878, Hamburg (Free Hanseatic City). Beautiful Gold 20 Mark Coin. (XF+) 7.92gm!

Mint Date: 1878 Reference: KM-602. Denomination: 20 Mark Condition: Usual circulation marks and slight wear, otherwise a nice XF+ Mint Place: Hamburg (J) Material: Gold (.900) Diameter: 23mm Weight: 7,92gm

Obverse: Shield of Hamburg (two stars above cross-topped castle with three towers), supported by lions and adorned with a plummed helmet. Legend: FREIE UND HANSESTADT HAMBURG / J Reverse: Crown of the German Empire above heraldic eagle with Prussian shield at chest and star order. Legend: DEUTSCHES REICH 1878 * 20 MARK *

In 1189 by Frederick I "Barbarossa" granted Hamburg the status of an Imperial Free City and tax-free access up the Lower Elbe into the North Sea. In 1265, a putative forged letter was presented to or by the Rath of Hamburg. This charter, along with Hamburg's proximity to the main trade routes of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, quickly made it a major port in Northern Europe. Its trade alliance with Lübeck in 1241 marks the origin and core of the powerful Hanseatic League of trading cities. On November 8, 1266 a contract between Henry III and Hamburg's traders allowed them to establish a hanse in London. This was the first time in history the word hanse was mentioned for the trading guild Hanseatic League. The first description of civil, criminal and procedural law for a city in Germany in German language, the Ordeelbook (Ordeel: sentence) was written by the solicitor of the senate Jordan von Boitzenburg in 1270. On August 10, 1410 civil commotion caused a compromise (German:Rezeß, literally meaning: withdrawal). It is the considered as the first constitution of Hamburg.