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10 Ducats - Frederick William Homage of the City of Magdeburg, 30 May 1681
| Issuer | Brandenburg-Prussia, State of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1681 |
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| Value | 10 Ducats |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A kneeling maiden (personification of Magdeburg, Parthenope) rendered in baroque style, facing right in a landscape setting, rendering homage before the elector. In the clouds above appear an imperial eagle, a radiant sun, and a cornucopia, symbolizing sovereignty, divine favor, and prosperity. The date of the homage ceremony, 30 May 1681, is inscribed in the lower field, with a Latin legend encircling the composition referencing the act of homage. |
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| Reverse lettering | SCEPTRIFERUM IAM PARTHENOPE SIC SUSCIPIT ALMUM PARTHENOP . HOMAG PRÆST . 30. MAY I • 16 * 81 • E. |
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| Additional information |
The Homage of Magdeburg in May 1681 marked the formal submission of the city to Brandenburg-Prussian authority following the Great Elector Frederick William's absorption of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg — a territory he had held in expectation since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 but was denied by Swedish occupation and political obstruction for over three decades. The city's capitulation was both a diplomatic conclusion and a personal vindication for Frederick William, and multiple gold multiples were struck to commemorate the ceremony.
At ten ducats, this is among the heaviest denominations produced for the occasion. Such presentation pieces were distributed to dignitaries rather than circulated, which accounts for the survival rate in relatively high condition.