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It's Enough for 8 Groschen...
Frederick the Great Seen through His Coins and Medals

24.01.2012 to 14.10.2012
Bode-Museum

Coins and medals reflect the history of Prussia and its great king in an immediate way: quite literally in the palms of our hands. No other European monarch wrought such wide-reaching changes to his country's coinage and monetary system as Frederick II of Prussia. With his coinage reforms of 1750 and 1764, he not only set Prussia on a new course, but also significantly paved the way for later monetary developments in the rest of Germany.

By radically debasing the currency, specifically of specie (by lowering the quantity of precious metals in newly minted coins), he managed to finance the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). He was just as radical in overhauling the Prussian currency after the war. The mints went from being half-private companies to efficient, state-run money factories. Under Frederick II, gold coins and larger silver coins were standardised across the country in a process that started in 1750. The diversity of territories under Prussian control and their various types of coins and monetary systems are reflected in the coins of the time. The coin portraits of Frederick II reveal a lot about the image of the ruler - from handsome young man in the year of his coronation in 1740 up to his death in 1786, by which time he was dubbed 'Old Fritz'. Besides his great battles and victories, various other kinds of events that took place during his reign are captured on his medals.

The Numismatic Collection holds over 3500 coins from the time of Frederick the Great, thus making it not only the largest, but also the most complete collection of its kind in the world. This particular collection will be published for the first time in its entirety, in a combination of print and online catalogues to mark the celebrations surrounding Frederick II's birth. The result means that the public now has unprecedented access to this historical source on the life of Frederick the Great.

The exhibition is being held as part of a wider series of events called 'Art - King - Enlightenment', coordinated by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation in honour of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Frederick the Great on 24 January 2012.

Am Kupfergraben, Eingang über die Monbijoubrücke
10178 Berlin

partially wheelchair accessible

Accessibility:
Unfortunately, the Bode-Museum is currently not accessible barrier-free due to a faulty lift. We are working to resolve the problem.

U-Bahn: Friedrichstraße
S-Bahn: Friedrichstraße, Hackescher Markt
Tram: Am Kupfergraben, Hackescher Markt
Bus: Staatsoper, Lustgarten, Friedrichstraße

Sun 10:00 - 18:00
Mon closed
Tue closed
Wed 10:00 - 17:00
Thu 10:00 - 17:00
Fri 10:00 - 17:00
Sat 10:00 - 18:00

Special opening hours during public holidays
Please note: The Bode Museum will be closed on March 12 for an event.

Please note:
The basement with the exhibition “Plain Talk. About the History of the Bode-Museum” is not accessible until further notice due to a technical fault.

Special arrangement: Open on Tuesdays for registered school classes with a guided tour.

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Related Links

Website 'Art - King - Enlightenment'