Hamburgische Münze




	The first ‘Portugalese’ medals were minted in Hamburg in the 16th century. Every piece has its own unique history, as does the ‘Ritzebüttel Portugalese’ medal, which we would like to present here. Hamburg obtained permission from the feudal lord of Hadeln, the duke of Sachsen-Lauenburg, very early to build a tower on a small mud flat island in the mouth of the Elbe, which served as a navigation mark and as a safeguard on the dangerous Scharhörn reef. This tower was completed in 1310 and was then seized by an alderman and ten gunmen (Dat nige Wark = Neuwerk [New work]). The current stone building – Hamburg’s oldest building – was erected in 1377.



	Martial law and piracy threatened the existence of Hamburg towards the end of the 14th century. As the von Lappe family residing in the Ritzebüttel castle at the mouth of the Elbe (Cuxhaven) were neither willing nor able to safeguard the Hamburg shipping traffic, the citizens of Hamburg took the castle by storm in 1394 and took over ownership. The first ‘Ritzebüttel Portugalese’ medal was struck on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of this day in 1894. On the front, it shows the mayors of Hamburg in 1394 and 1894 with their families’ coats of arms. On the reverse, it shows a cog in front of the Neuwerk lighthouse and a description of the event. The ‘Ritzebüttel Portugalese’ medal is available in fine silver directly from the Hamburg Mint. Other Portugalese collector’s medals: • Effigy Portugalese • Mayor Portugalese • Church Portugalese • Historic Portugalese