(sold for $6.0)

1854, Frankfurt (Free City). Beautiful Silver 6 Kreuzer "City View" Coin. VF

Mint Year: 1854 Reference: KM-350. Denomination: 6 Kreuzer Condition: VF (scratches!) Mint Place: Frankfurt (Free City) Material: Silver (.333) Diameter: 20mm Weight: 2.46gm

Obverse: Landscape view of the City of Frankfurt with river Main and bridge in middle. Legend: F. ST. FRANKFURT.      Reverse: Large value numeral (6) above denomination (KREUZER) and date (1854). All within wreath.

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.