Museum of money of Feodosia
>> GERMAN EMPIRE (1873 – 1918).
     >> Silver coins of German Empire (1873 – 1918).
         >> Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine.
GRAND DUCHY OF HESSE AND BY RHINE.
Hesse (till 1866 – Hesse-Darmstadt) – was a Grand Duchy of the German Empire. Its capital – Darmstadt.
The Hessians – a German tribe that lived here before the Roman domination – gave the name the Duchy.
The Duchy founded by the youngest of Philip 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 XVII century.
Hesse was more formally referred to as Hesse-Darmstadt to distinguish it from other Hesse lines, such as Hesse-Kassel. Both Hesse-Darmstadt and Hesse-Kassel trace their history back to the division of the Hessian lands that took place on the death in 1567 of Landgraf Philip the Magnanimous.
Hesse-Darmstadt entered Napoleon’s Confederation of the Rhine in 1806 and was consequently raised to the status of a grand duchy in that year. In 1815 the Congress of Vienna ceded some of Hesse-Darmstadt’s lands to Prussia and Bavaria but in compensation gave the duchy, a district on the west bank of the Rhine containing the important cities of Mainz and Worms.
In 1816 the Grand Duchy changed its name to the Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine.
In 1867, the northern half of the Grand Duchy (Upper Hesse) became a part of the North German Confederation, while the half of the Grand Duchy south of the Main remained outside.
Hesse became part of the German Empire in 1871.
The last Grand Duke, Ernst Ludwig, was the brother of Tsarina Alexandra of Russia.
The Coat of Arms of the Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine: the Hessian red and white lion.
The rulers, who struck coins (in Germany Empire):
• Reign: 1848 – 13.06.1877 – Ludwig III (born: 09.06.1806 – died: 13.06.1877),
• Reign: 13.06.1877 – 13.03.1892 – Ludwig IV (born: 12.09.1837 – died: 13.03.1892),
• Reign: 13.03.1892 – 1918 – Ernst Ludwig (born: 25.11.1868 – died: 09.11.1937).

	Denomination: 2 Mark Year: – Material: Silver Description: Obverse: Portrait of the Grand Duke Ludwig III (1848 – 1877) right. Semicircular inscription: LUDWIG III GROSHERZOG VON HESSEN. Beneath it – mint mark 'H' (Darmstadt). Reverse: The arms of the country with a so-called small eagle, above it – the German imperial crown; on a breast of an eagle – board with the arms of Prussia, around it – a Prussian award of the Black Eagle with a circuit. Semicircular inscription: DEUTSCHES REICH ∙ ZWEI MARK, year of issue. 900 standard silver (Ag 900, Cu 100). Diameter – 28 mm. Weight – 11.111 g. Edge – 140 corrugations, thickness 2.1 mm. This type of coin has been struck in 1876, 1877, was in circulation in Ukraine from end of April to the middle of November, 1918. FMM hasn’t got this coin yet. Country or town: Germany
Click to enlarge!	Denomination: 5 Mark Year: 1876 Material: Silver Description: Obverse: Portrait of the Grand Duke Ludwig III (1848 – 1877) right. Semicircular inscription: LUDWIG III GROSHERZOG VON HESSEN. Beneath it – mint mark 'H' (Darmstadt). Reverse: The arms of the country with a so-called small eagle, above it – the German imperial crown; on a breast of an eagle – board with the arms of Prussia, around it – a Prussian award of the Black Eagle with a circuit. Semicircular inscription: DEUTSCHES REICH 1876 ∙ FÜNF MARK. 900 standard silver (Ag 900, Cu 100). Diameter – 38 mm. Weight – 27.778 g., thickness 2.8 mm. Edge – plain, inscription: GOTT MIT UNS. This type of coin has been struck in 1875, 1876, was in circulation in Ukraine from end of April to the middle of November, 1918. Country or town: Germany
	Denomination: 2 Mark Year: 1888 Material: Silver Description: Obverse: Portrait of the Grand Duke Ludwig IV (1877 – 1892) right. Semicircular inscription: LUDWIG IV GROSHERZOG VON HESSEN. Beneath it – mint mark 'A' (Berlin). Reverse: The arms of the country with a so-called small eagle, above it – the German imperial crown; on a breast of an eagle – board with the arms of Prussia, around it – a Prussian award of the Black Eagle with a circuit. Semicircular inscription: DEUTSCHES REICH 1888 ∙ ZWEI MARK. 900 standard silver (Ag 900, Cu 100). Diameter – 28 mm. Weight – 11.111 g. Edge – 140 corrugations, thickness 2.1 mm. Mintage: 22 000. This type of coin was in circulation in Ukraine from end of April to the middle of November, 1918. FMM hasn’t got this coin yet. Country or town: Germany
	Denomination: 2 Mark Year: 1891 Material: Silver Description: Obverse: Portrait of the Grand Duke Ludwig IV (1877 – 1892) right. Semicircular inscription: LUDWIG IV GROSHERZOG VON HESSEN. Beneath it – mint mark 'A' (Berlin). Reverse: The arms of the country with a so-called big eagle, above it – the German imperial crown; on a breast of an eagle – board with the arms of Prussia, around it – a Prussian award of the Black Eagle with a circuit. Semicircular inscription: DEUTSCHES REICH 1891 ∙ ZWEI MARK. 900 standard silver (Ag 900, Cu 100). Diameter – 28 mm. Weight – 11.111 g. Edge – 140 corrugations, thickness 2.1 mm. Mintage: 63 000. This type of coin was in circulation in Ukraine from end of April to the middle of November, 1918. FMM hasn’t got this coin yet. Country or town: Germany
	Denomination: 5 Mark Year: 1888 Material: Silver Description: Obverse: Portrait of the Grand Duke Ludwig IV (1877 – 1892) right. Semicircular inscription: LUDWIG IV GROSHERZOG VON HESSEN. Beneath it – mint mark 'A' (Berlin). Reverse: The arms of the country with a so-called small eagle, above it – the German imperial crown; on a breast of an eagle – board with the arms of Prussia, around it – a Prussian award of the Black Eagle with a circuit. Semicircular inscription: DEUTSCHES REICH 1888 ∙ FÜNF MARK. 900 standard silver (Ag 900, Cu 100). Diameter – 38 mm. Weight – 27.778 g., thickness 2.8 mm. Edge – plain, inscription: GOTT MIT UNS. Mintage: 8 940. This type of coin was in circulation in Ukraine from end of April to the middle of November, 1918. FMM hasn’t got this coin yet. Country or town: Germany

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