Aachen held a unique position among imperial cities as the traditional coronation seat of German kings, and its mint rights were bound up in that ceremonial role. The groschen series to which this piece belongs was issued during a period when Aachen's civic finances were under persistent strain from trade disputes and the costs of maintaining its position within the imperial framework. The specific die variety catalogued by Menadier as 101a is distinguished from the closely related 101 by the stops in the obverse legend.
Aachen held a unique position among imperial cities as the traditional coronation seat of German kings, and its mint rights were bound up in that ceremonial role. The groschen series to which this piece belongs was issued during a period when Aachen's civic finances were under persistent strain from trade disputes and the costs of maintaining its position within the imperial framework. The specific die variety catalogued by Menadier as 101a is distinguished from the closely related 101 by the stops in the obverse legend.