(sold for $32.0)

1708, Hamburg. Silver "Corruption of the Imperial Commission" 2 Ducats Coin. VF-

Mint Year: 1708 Medallist: Christian Wermuth (1661-1739) Reference: Fieweger 343; Gaed.25-15; BDM. VI, 438. Denomination: Satirical Medallic 2 Ducats (struck here in silver) - Corruption of the Imperial Commission  Condition: Struck with broken obverse die, lightly pitted by corrosion, minor deposits, otherwise VF! Diameter: 25mm Material: Silver Weight: 6.8gm

Obverse:  A hand extends offering a coin. Legend: KOMSTU MIR ALSO * ("If you come to me like that...")   Reverse:An official covers face with hand, but peers through his fingers. Legend:  SO KOMME ICH DIR SO* ("I will come to you like that...")

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.