Catalog
1/4 Mark
| Issuer | Free Hanseatic city of Hamburg (German States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1506 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays the Hamburg civic arms in elaborate heraldic composition, dominated by a quartered shield featuring the castle device and additional heraldic charges, with a spread eagle at the base. Four heraldic fields are arranged around a central cross dividing the shield into quarters, each bearing distinct civic and imperial symbols. The date 1506 is incorporated into the legend alongside the denomination inscription. A circular legend in Gothic uncial script reads QVADR` MARCE 1506, identifying this as a quarter mark of Hamburg. The field is fully occupied by the heraldic design, consistent with the dense, Gothic aesthetic of early sixteenth-century German municipal coinage. |
| Reverse script | Latin (uncial) |
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| Additional information |
Hamburg's quarter mark coinage of the early sixteenth century emerged from the city's position as a dominant node in the Hanseatic trading network, where fractional silver denominations were essential for daily commerce at the quayside and in the merchant halls. The city maintained jealously guarded minting rights throughout this period, negotiating repeatedly with the Holy Roman Emperor to preserve autonomous coin production — a privilege with direct revenue implications for the city senate.
The Gaedechens reference range 719–727 indicates multiple die varieties documented for this type, a detail worth investigating before attributing any single example.