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Obverse of German War Coin
Obverse of 1918 German 10 Stadt-Duren

Germany
Countries
Reverse of German War Coin
Reverse of 1918 German 10 Stadt-Duren

Currency of the Second Reich (Kaiser Reich)
Prior to the unification of the Germany in 1871, the German states used a variety of different currencies, often based around a silver Thaler of some description, many of the German states had reformed their currencies several times over the preceding centuries. However, in the years leading up to the formation of a united Germany, the two main currencies were that of Prussia, and that of the South Germany Currency Union.

Prussian Currency
The Prussian pre-decimal currency was duo-decimal, similar to that of Britain, with 12 pfennigs to the silbergroschen (similar to the British relationship of the penny to the shilling, however, it took 30 of these silbergroschen to make a thaler. A gold trade coinage, based around the Frederick D'Or, was also struck up until 1855.

South Germany Currency Union
From 1837 until 1871, the states of Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, Frankfurt and Hohenzollern were part of a currency union based around the Gulden, worth 60 Kreutzer. The Kreutzer was also used in Austrial Hungary until decimalisation in 1857, although the value of the Austrian Kreutzer was not equivalent to the SGCU Kreutzer.

Unification.
These pre-decimal currencies were abolished following the unification of Germany in 1871. The new imperial currency was based around the silver mark of 100 Pfennig to the Mark. Denominations below Two Marks were produced to standard designs, whilst those of Two Marks and above retained the royal portraits or Coats of arms of the issuing German states.
Copper coins of 1 and 2 Pfennig were issued, copper-nickel 5 and 10 Pfennigs, silver 20 were issued, although this denomination was switched to copper nickel in 1887. Silver 50 Pfennig, 1 Mark and 2 Mark coins were produced. Coins with localised obverses consisted of the 2 Mark and 5 mark coins. The 5 mark was also struck in gold, as was the 10 and 20 mark denominations.

World War I.
The strains of war had a huge effect on the striking of coins in Germany, as did the allied blockade, which restricted the flow of vital materials into Germany. Consequently, gold coins were no longer struck after 1915, and most of those that had been struck that year were melted down. Many low denomination coins, known as kriegsgeld (war money), were struck in iron or zinc, often featuring a German soldier on the obverse to symbolise that this was a war coinage. In 1918, the Kaiser Reich was dissolved and Kaiser Wilhelm and all the other royal heads of the German states abdicated and went into exile, leading the formation of the Weimar Republic.

German Gold Coins
We have German gold coins available on our Tax Free Gold website.

Postage & Packing, Per Order:
UK: At buyer's Risk £3.50 or
Fully Insured £9 (Usually by Royal Mail Special Delivery)
USA: Airmail at buyer's risk $10 or
Fully Insured $20
For further details, please see our Postage & Packing page.

Order Form - UK
Order Form - USA
Order Form - EU
Order Form - Rest of World

German Euro Coin Sets

Euro Coins Index

2002 Euro Coin Sets - All 12 Major Countries
2002 Euro Coins Sets - Official Issues 15 States
Euro Coins
Euro Coin Relative Sizes
Euro Zone

World Coins & Sets - Who Issued What?

If you want to find the value of a coin you own, please take a look at our page I've Found An Old Coin, What's It Worth?

If you have an enquiry about any of our Silver Coins,, we'd be happy to answer you, but please note it may be quicker to telephone us. Please see the Contact Us page of our website.

Coins Wanted
We make an active market in almost all world coins, including German coins of the Weimar Republic or other periods. If you have any of these coins to sell, please contact us, or post them to us for appraisal and offer.


...at the Lowest Possible Price

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