Free Imperial City of Frankfurt (1372-1806), Grand Duchy of Frankfurt (1810-1813), Free City of Frankfurt (1813-1866)
Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire (1372-1806), State of the Confederation of the Rhine (1810-1813)
Location: Central Germany
Capital City: Frankfurt
Government type: Republic (1376-1806, 1813-1866), Absolute Monarchy (1806-1813)
Main languages: German
Main religions: Protestant Christianity
Chronology
1372: Frankfurt becomes a Free Imperial City
1759-1763: Occupied by France
1806: Part of the Principality of Aschaffenburg
1810: Grand Duchy of Frankfurt succeds Aschaffenburg
1813: Free City reestablished with the breakup of the Confederation of the Rhine
1866: Annexed by Prussia
Currency
Thaler (1372-1838)
1 Thaler = 24 Groschen = 68 English = 90 Kreuzer = 240 Pfennig = 480 Heller • 1 Ducat = 3.5 Thaler
Gulden (1838-1866)
1 Gulden = 60 Gulden = 480 Heller
Coins from Frankfurt in the collection
•1 Heller, 1821 (copper, Frankfurt mint, KM#301)
•1 Pfennig, 1819 (copper, KM#Tn5) "Judenpfennig/Bleyensteinse Duit" token
•1 Heller, 1859 (copper, KM#356)
Note: "Judenpfennig" (Jewish Penny) tokens were made in Frankfurt in the early 19th century as private tokens to remedy a shortage in small coins. Most of these tokens were produced by Jewish merchants, hence the name. This particular type of Judenpfennig is also known as a Bleyensteinse Duit, since they were also exported to the Netherlands for use there, where a grocer from Utrecht named Bleyenstein gave them as change, but refused to take them as payment, prompting an agry mob to loot his store.