Description: | Medal by Reich, commemorating coronation in Frankfurt of Leopold II of Austria as 'Holy Roman Emperor'. |
Obverse: | Uniformed three-quarter bust left. "LEOPOLDUS II D•G•R• IMP• S•A•G.H• B•REX•A•A•B•L•D." |
Reverse: | Germania, protected by a knight, hands Leopold the crown of Charlemagne, God's all-seeing eye in clouds above. "DIGNISSIMO". In exergue "INMO• CTOR./1790" |
Statistics: | Tin/Pewter 48mm 36.66gm |
Reference: | Foerschner 397.2 |
Comment: | Medal by Reich, signed both sides - with his characteristic copper plug just above the date. |
LEOPOLD II
His coronation as 'Holy Roman Emperor' took place in Frankfurt on the 9th of October 1790. From 855 the German kings and emperors had been elected in Frankfurt and crowned in Aachen. From 1562 the kings/emperors were also crowned in Frankfurt, Maximilian II being the first one. This tradition ended in 1792, when Franz II (Leopold's son) was elected. |