1997 AD., Germany, 500th birth anniversary Melanchthon, 10 Mark, KM 189.

Deutschland, Bundesrepublik, Münzstätte Hamburg, Gedenkmünze zum 500. Geburtstag des Reformators Philipp Melanchthon, Entwurf von von Hubert Klinkel, 1997 AD.,
10 Mark (32,5 mm / 15,66 g), 15,5 g Prägegewicht, Auflage 4,0 Millionen Stück, 0.625 Silber und 0.375 Kupfer,
Obv.: PHILIPP MELANCHTHON - * 1497 + 1560 , sein Brustbild n. l. Die Bildseite zeigt den Reformator und Humanisten Philipp Melanchthon, wie ihn Albrecht Dürer 1526 in Nürnberg gesehen hat. Die Umschrift lautet: "PHILIPP MELANCHTHON * 1497 + 1560".
Rev.: BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND / 10 / DEUTSCHE - MARK 1997 . J . , um stilisierten Adler.
Edge: ZUM • GESPRAECH • GEBOREN ••
J. 463 ; KM 189 .

Philipp Melanchthon (February 16, 1497 – April 19, 1560), born Philipp Schwartzerdt (of which "Melanchthon" is a Greek translation), was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems. He stands next to Luther and Calvin as a reformer, theologian, and molder of Protestantism. As much as Luther, he is the primary founder of Lutheranism. They both denounced what they saw as the exaggerated cult of the saints, justification by works, and the coercion of the conscience in the sacrament of penance that nevertheless could not offer certainty of salvation. Melanchthon made the distinction between law and gospel the central formula for Lutheran evangelical insight. By the "law" he meant the Papacy and rigid rituals controlled by priests; the "gospel" meant an individual directly confronting Christ through Bible reading, hymns and prayer.