Obverse. Photo © Monetnik.ru
  • 2 Euro 2024, KM# 440, Germany, Federal Republic, 175th Anniversary of the Constitution of St. Paul's Church
  • 2 Euro 2024, KM# 440, Germany, Federal Republic, 175th Anniversary of the Constitution of St. Paul's Church
  • 2 Euro 2024, KM# 440, Germany, Federal Republic, 175th Anniversary of the Constitution of St. Paul's Church, Coincard
  • 2 Euro 2024, KM# 440, Germany, Federal Republic, 175th Anniversary of the Constitution of St. Paul's Church, Coincard
Description

The Frankfurt Constitution (German: Frankfurter Reichsverfassung) or Constitution of St. Paul's Church (Paulskirchenverfassung), officially named the Constitution of the German Empire (Verfassung des Deutschen Reiches) of 28 March 1849, was an unsuccessful attempt to create a unified German nation state in the successor states of the Holy Roman Empire organised in the German Confederation. Adopted and proclaimed by the Frankfurt Parliament after the Revolutions of 1848, the constitution contained a charter of fundamental rights and a democratic government in the form of a constitutional monarchy. King Frederick William IV of Prussia was designated head of state as "Emperor of the Germans" (Kaiser der Deutschen), a role he rejected.

The constitution is called by its more common names in order to distinguish it from the Constitution of the German Empire enacted in 1871 and initiated by Otto von Bismarck.

Obverse

Depicts a perspective representation of the St Paul's Church (Paulskirche) in Frankfurt am Main, at the moment when the deputies of the constituent National Assembly entered. Behind it, there is the paper constitution document including a quill, representing the outcome of the Paulskirche Parliament. Finally, it is adorned by three female allegories: Unity, Justice, and Freedom, as well as the tricolor of black, red, and gold. The design impresses with its three-dimensional lively relief, evoking curiosity about the timeless democratic principles that were first written down and influential here.

The inner part of the coin also displays the inscription "Paulskirche Constitution 1849" and, in the lower area, the year of issue "2024," the country code "D" for the issuing country Germany, the mint mark of the respective mint ("A," "D," "F," "G," or "J"), and the artist's initials. On the outer ring of the national side, the twelve stars of Europe are arranged.

Engraver: Bodo Broschat (BB)

PAULSKIRCHENVERFASSUNG 1849
D
D
BB
2024

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

UNITY AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOM in German, Germany's national motto and the beginning of Germany's national anthem, followed by the Federal Eagle

EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT

2 Euro

175th Anniversary of the Constitution of St. Paul's Church

KM# 440
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mints
Bavarian Central Mint (D)
Berlin State Mint (A)
Hamburg Mint (J)
Karlsruhe State Mint (G)
Stuttgart State Mint (F)

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