Horses
Hannover - 1/2 Groschen
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
GERMANY - STATES - 2 |
| Item Description: |
1/2GR 1864B HANNOVER |
| Full Grade: |
NGC MS 64 |
| Owner: |
brg5658 |
Owner Comments:
Purchased on 1/19/2013.
This coin features the Saxon Steed, which is a favorite heraldic motif of the Saxons. The Saxon Steed has very old origins, possibly as far back as the 5th Century AD. The image is common on the coinage of the Kingdom of Hannover, which existed from 1814-1866. A similar image is found on the flag of the Kingdom of Hannover from 1837-1866.
At the time this coin was minted in 1864, the Kingdom of Hannover was ruled by George V, a cousin of Queen Victoria of England and the grandson of George III of England. The Kingdom of Hannover disolved in 1866 when it was conquered by Prussia, and was briefly reinstated as an independent state in 1946. The state of Hannover subsequently joined other small states and became the present day state of Lower Saxony, one of 16 states making up Germany. To this day, the Coat of Arms of Lower Saxony features the image of the Saxon Steed.