Weekly World Coin Post: GERMANY

This week we are visiting the "Bundesrepublik Deautschland," or the Federal Republic of Germany... sounds like something our of Star Wars, with their federations, and republics... ha, well you get it.

All the coins I have are from before the fall of the Berlin Wall, but not as far back as currency from the Third Reich. If you are interested in German Third Reich currency (Reichsmark), please click HERE.

Currently, Germany is part of the EU and adopted the Euro in 1999. But doing the math, one German Mark is equivalent to roughly $0.68 USD, though no longer legal tender. 100 Pfennig = 1 Mark. For more information on the German Mark, please click HERE.

CENTER LEFT:

1970 2 Mark Copper-Nickel 26.75mm | Konrad Adenauer

TOP/BOTTOM ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

1973 1 Pfennig Copper Plated Steel 16.5mm
1979 2 Pfennig Bronze Clad Steel 19.25mm
1976 5 Pfennig Brass Plated Steel 18.5mm
1977 10 Pfennig Brass Plated Steel 21.5mm
1950 50 Pfennig Copper-Nickel 20mm

There are three overlying themes on most of the German currency. The first being of the Eagle. Coins all throughout the last hundred years or so from Germany have had it in one form or another. To learn about the Germ Coat of Arms and Imperial Eagle, click HERE.

The next two themes can be seen on most of the coinage with less than 1 Mark in denomination. They are of Oak leaves, and wheat grain. The Oak tree is designated as the national tree. The wheat is to symbolize the country's food stable, as well as it's large export economy. They say Germany has the widest variety of wheat bread in the world.