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A 1913-A silver 2 Mark of the Kingdom of Prussia, struck at Berlin under Wilhelm II to mark the centenary of the Wars of Liberation, the uprising that ended with Napoleon’s defeat at the great Battle of Leipzig in 1813. About Uncirculated, retaining much of its original luster.
Description
In 1812 Napoleon’s Grand Army was destroyed in the retreat from Moscow, and Prussia, humbled and occupied since its defeat in 1806, saw its chance. On 17 March 1813, King Frederick William III issued his famous proclamation An Mein Volk (“To My People”), calling the nation to arms. Volunteers poured in from every class of society, and in October of that year Prussian, Russian, Austrian, and Swedish armies crushed Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig, the “Battle of the Nations,” the largest battle in Europe before the twentieth century.
A century later, Prussia celebrated the anniversary with this commemorative coin. The obverse shows the king on horseback surrounded by his cheering people, with the legend DER KÖNIG RIEF UND ALLE ALLE KAMEN (“The King called, and all, all came”), the battle cry MIT GOTT FÜR KÖNIG UND VATERLAND (“With God for King and Fatherland”), and the date of the proclamation, 17 March 1813. The reverse shows an eagle seizing a serpent, a symbol of Prussia’s triumph over its enemy, with the legend DEUTSCHES REICH 1913 ZWEI MARK.
Struck just a year before the outbreak of the First World War, the coin captures the patriotic spirit of Imperial Germany at its height, and its striking scene makes it one of the most popular commemoratives of the German Empire.
Please refer to the photos as part of the description, as they are a critical part of accurately representing this item’s condition and details.
Specifications Country Germany, Kingdom of Prussia (German Empire) Ruler Wilhelm II (1888–1918) Denomination 2 Mark Date 1913 Mint Berlin (mintmark A) Occasion Centenary of the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon, 1813–1913 Obverse Frederick William III on horseback amid his cheering people; legend DER KÖNIG RIEF UND ALLE ALLE KAMEN / MIT GOTT FÜR KÖNIG UND VATERLAND, dated 17.3.1813 Reverse Imperial eagle grasping a serpent in its talons; legend DEUTSCHES REICH 1913 ZWEI MARK References KM# 532; Jaeger 109; AKS 140 Composition Silver (.900) Weight / Diameter 11.1 g / 28.1 mm Edge Reeded
Condition
About Uncirculated (AU), with sharp detail in the horseman, the crowd, and the eagle. The coin shows minor traces of an old cleaning. Please examine the photographs carefully, as grading is subjective.
Grading & Returns
For coins not certified by a third-party grading service, any grade stated in this listing represents our good-faith opinion. We describe and grade each coin as accurately and conservatively as possible; please examine the photographs carefully and use your own judgment regarding grade and condition. If the coin does not meet your expectations, it may be returned within 14 days for a full refund in accordance with the return terms stated in this listing.
Shipping
Items are securely packaged and shipped promptly with tracking. We combine shipping whenever practical for multiple purchases made at the same time. Higher-value items may require signature confirmation or additional insurance.
SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS
