Catalog
20 Ducats - Aureus Magnus Theodor Heuss
| Issuer | Germany, Federal Republic of |
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| Year | 1959 |
| Type | Fantasy coin |
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| Obverse description | Left-facing draped bust of Theodor Heuss, first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, rendered in high relief against a deeply mirrored field in the proof style. Below the truncation, the German Federal Eagle is depicted on a heraldic shield flanked by decorative foliate sprays. The circumferential Latin legend reads THEODORUS HEUSS MOD R P GERMAN, with the dates 1949 and 1959 flanking the shield at the lower left and right respectively, commemorating Heuss's decade as head of state. The engraver's signature appears discreetly near the truncation. |
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| Obverse lettering | THEODORUS HEUSS MOD R P GERMAN 1949-1959 |
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| Additional information |
This piece was never a circulation issue — it was produced by the Bavarian State Mint as a privately commissioned restrike intended for the collector and gift market, trading on the prestige of Germany's first Federal President without any official Bundesbank mandate. Theodor Heuss had in fact left office in September 1959, making the timing of this issue more commemorative convenience than political tribute.
The "Aureus Magnus" designation is a commercial styling, not an official monetary classification. At 70 grams of high-fineness gold, the piece was priced against bullion from the outset.