Hesse-Darmstadt Coins

Obverse of 1875 Hesse-Darmstadt Five Mark

Germany

Countries

Reverse of 1875 Hesse-Darmstadt Five Mark

German States
For many centuries Germany was in actuality a large number of states, some large, others small, and power rested mainly with the lords of each state. The Hapsburgs attempted to unify Germany ending in the thirty years war 1618 - 1648, which devastated the German economy, and heightened the localisation of power. At this point it is estimated that there were as many as 1,800 separate states some with a population as few as 300 people. Otto von Bismarck was instrumental in unifying most of these states into a modern nation. On April 14th 1871, the king of Prussia, the largest and most powerful state become emperor William I . According to Krause, the new nation consisted of 4 kingdoms, 6 grand duchies and principalities, 3 free cities, and the province of Alsace-Lorraine.

Hesse-Darmstadt
Founded by the youngest of Philipp I's four sons upon the death of their father in 1567, Hesse-Darmstadt was one of the two main branches of the family which survived past the beginning of the 17th century.
The Countship of Hanau-Lichtenburg was acquired through marriage when the male line of that principality failed in 1736. Ludwig X was forced to cede that territory to France in 1801. In 1803, Darmstadt acquired part of the of the Palatinate, the city of Friedberg, part of the city of Mainz, and the Duchy of Westphalia in a general settlement with France.
The landgrave was elevated to the status of Grand Duke in 1806 and reacquired Hesse-Homburg. In 1815 the Congress of Vienna awarded Hesse-Darmstadt the city of Worms and all of Mainz. These were relinquished, along with hesse-Homburg, to Prussia in 1867 onwards. Hesse became part of the German Empire in 1871, but ceased to exist as a semi-sovereign state at the end of World War I.

Specifications

Denomination	Diameter	Weight	Alloy	ASW
Five Mark	38	27.777	0.900	0.8038

Notes
Denomination = Face Value of Coin
Diameter = Diameter in millimetres
Weight = Total weight in grams
Fineness = Purity of silver alloy
Silver Content = Actual fine silver content in troy ounces.

Prices & Availability
All prices on our websites are subject to fluctuation and availability. Please check before ordering.

Date	Description	Availability	Price £	Price $	Price €
1875	Five Mark	Yes	£100	$165	€120

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Fully Insured £9 (Usually by Royal Mail Special Delivery)
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Fully Insured $20
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