Louis VIII of Hesse-Darmstadt died in October 1768, but this ducat's date range of 1760–1761 places it squarely in the Seven Years' War, during which Hesse-Darmstadt — unlike its neighbor Hesse-Kassel — aligned with France and Austria against Prussia. The landgraviate paid heavily for that choice in both treasure and territory. Gold ducats from minor German states in this period were often struck in small runs to fund exactly the kind of diplomatic and military obligations that alignment with a major power demanded.
Louis VIII of Hesse-Darmstadt died in October 1768, but this ducat's date range of 1760–1761 places it squarely in the Seven Years' War, during which Hesse-Darmstadt — unlike its neighbor Hesse-Kassel — aligned with France and Austria against Prussia. The landgraviate paid heavily for that choice in both treasure and territory. Gold ducats from minor German states in this period were often struck in small runs to fund exactly the kind of diplomatic and military obligations that alignment with a major power demanded.
Fr#1220 is notably scarce in any grade.