Luxembourg 5 francs 1929

The coin's story

This 5 francs coin is, with the 10 francs of the same year, the first silver coin of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the first to bear the portrait of Grand Duchess Charlotte. Having come to the throne on 14 January 1919, after the abdication of her sister Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess Charlotte reigned until 1964. A grand-ducal decree of 3 August 1929 ordered it to be struck to replace the cash notes then in circulation. The Stuttgart Mint produced 2,000,000 pieces in 625 thousandths silver. The portrait is the work of the German sculptor and medallist Ludwig Habich (1872-1949), of Darmstadt, after a drawing by Roessler, who also engraved the reverse. Withdrawal was ordered by a grand-ducal decree of 14 October 1944, and public offices still accepted the coin until 30 April 1949.