Germany (Deutschland)

Coins of
Germany

German Democratic Republic ←
Federal Republic Germany ←

German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland

100 pfennig (single: pfennig) = 1 German gold mark (plural: gold mark) [???] (1873-1914)
100 pfennig (single: pfennig) = 1 German Papiermark (plural: Papiermark) [???] (1914-1923)
100 rentenpfennig (single: rentenpfennig) = 1 German rentenmark (plural: rentenmark) [???] (1923-1924)
100 reichspfennig (single: reichspfennig) = 1 German reichsmark (plural: reichsmark) [???] (1924-1948)
100 pfennig (single: pfennig) = 1 German mark (plural: mark) [DEM] (1948-2002)
100 cents (single: cent) = 1 euro (plural: euro) [EUR] (since 2002)
Symbols: ℛℳ (reichsmark), ℳ (gold mark, Papiermark), rpf (reichspfennig)

Unofficial motto: Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit (Unity and Justice and Freedom)

Languages on coins: German
Alphabets on coins: Latin
Numerals on coins: Western Arabic
Calendars on coins: Gregorian

Mint Marks

germany deutschland staatliche munze berlin a mint mark coin

Staatliche Münze Berlin, Berlin (DEU), Capital letter "A"

?, Vienna (AUT), capital letter "B"

?, Frankfurt (DEU): capital letter "C"

germany deutschland bayerische hauptmunzamt munich munchen d mint mark coin

Bayerisches Hauptmünzamt, Munich (DEU), capital letter "D"

?, Muldenhütten (DEU), capital letter "E"

germany deutschland staatliche munze baden wurttemberg standort stuttgart f mint mark coin

Staatliche Münze Baden-Württemberg Standort Stuttgart, Stuttgart (DEU), capital letter "F"

germany deutschland staatliche munze baden wurttemberg standort karlsruhe g mint mark coin

Staatliche Münze Baden-Württemberg Standort Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe (DEU), Capital letter "G"

?, Darmstadt (DEU): capital letter "H"

germany deutschland hamburgische munze hamburg j mint mark coin

Hamburgische Münze, Hamburg (DEU), Capital letter "J"

Designer Marks

Adelheid Fuss (?): stylized "AF"

germany deutschland heinz hoyer designer mark coin hh

Heinz Hoyer (DEU): "HH"

Heinrich Körner (DEU): stylized "HK"

germany deutschland belgium luc luycx designer mark coin ll euro

Luc Luycx (BEL): Superimposed "LL"

Eric Ott (DEU): "OE"

Katrin Pannicke (?): "KP"

germany deutschland greece giorgis georges stamatopoulos gamma sigma designer mark coin euro

Giorgos Stamatopoulos (GRC): Greek capital letters gamma and sigma, "ΓΣ"

National identification and other marks

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of the German Empire used from 1871-1888 consists of an escutcheon decorated with an eagle with spread wings and talons and a single head (as opposed to earlier effigies). The eagle is wearing the crown of Charlemagne and a chain and it holds another escutcheon decorated with, again, an eagle with spread wings and talons and a single head (referring to Prussia). This eagle holds an imperial apple and a sceptre in its talons and wears a crown. The escutcheon held by this eagle is quartered with no further decoration (the arms of Hohenzollern).
This coat of arms already appears on earlier coins.

Photograph of the coat of arms of the German Empire from 1888-1918 as it appears on coins

Drawing of the coat of arms of the German Empire from 1888-1918 as it appears on coins

The coat of arms of Germany as of 1950 shows a eagle (Bundesadler) with spread wings and talons, open beak and with a single head facing to the right.

Photograph of the coat of arms of Germany (1950-) as it appears on coins

Drawing of the coat of arms of Germany (1950-) as it appears on coins

State emblem

The state emblem of Nazi Germany (Reichsadler) from 1933 to 1945 shows a swastika in a wreath held by an eagle with wings spread.

Photograph of the state emblem of Nazi Germany as it appears on coins

Drawing of the state emblem of Nazi Germany as it appears on coins

Other marks

Eagle

On the edge of the German 2 euro coins an eagle is depicted. The eagle is often choosen as it is the national symbol of Germany.

Coins of Germany