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1840, Frankfurt (Free City). Silver "City View" 2 Thaler (3½ Gulden) Coin. 37gm!

Mint Year: 1840
Denomination: 2 Thaler (3½ Gulden)
References: Davenport 640, KM-326.
Condition: Large scratch in obverse (in the middle, across landscape), numerous bag-marks and tiny scratches, otherwise a nicely toned VF-XF!
Weight: 37.11gm
Diameter: 41mm
Material: Silver

Obverse: Detailed panoramic view of Frankurt city with a beautiful harbour scene showing boats in foreground and sun rising in background.
Legend: FREIE STADT FRANKFURT ("Free City of Frankfurt")

Reverse: Value in gulden (3½ GULDEN) and thaler (2 THALER) and date (1840). All within wreath. Value in mark (VII EINE F. MARK) below.

Edge: CONVENTION VOM * 30 IULY * 1838 *

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.