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1 Mark - Frederick I
| Issuer | Danish duchies of Schleswig and Holstein (German States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1514 |
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| Value | 1 Mark (1/4) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central quartered shield of arms surmounted by an elaborate crested helm, the crest displaying a crowned lion issuing from the helmet above a fan of plumes; the quartered shield bears the arms of Schleswig (two lions passant) and Holstein (nettle leaf), with additional quarters for the dynastic claims of the duchy. A circular legend in Gothic uncial characters runs between two beaded borders enclosing the central device, reading the ruler's title and name. The overall composition is rendered in the bold, deeply-struck style characteristic of early sixteenth-century German hammered coinage. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Half-length facing figure of Saint Andrew, rendered in the Gothic manner, holding the saltire cross diagonally before him; below the figure, a shield bearing the arms of the House of Oldenburg is prominently displayed in the lower field. A circumscribed legend in Gothic uncial characters surrounds the composition between beaded borders, incorporating the date 1514 as part of the inscription. The devotional imagery reflects the dynastic patronage of the apostolic saint by the ruling house of Oldenburg-Holstein. |
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| Additional information |
Frederick I issued this mark in 1514 while governing Schleswig and Holstein jointly under the complex co-rulership arrangements that characterized the duchies throughout the sixteenth century. The Danish crown and the Holstein nobility had long contested administrative authority over the region, and coinage was one of the clearest expressions of who held effective power at any given moment. That Frederick struck in his own name here reflects his consolidation of ducal authority before his accession to the Danish throne in 1523.
MB#20 is not a common reference in surviving collections. Strike quality on this type varies considerably across known examples, attributable to the regional mint infrastructure of the period rather than any systematic production fault.