The federal states of the German Empire were allowed to issue their own silver coins in denominations of 2 and 5 marks from 1873. The Coinage Act of 9 July 1873 regulated how the coins were to be designed: On the obverse or image side only the state sovereign or the coat of arms of the free cities of Hamburg, Bremen or Lübeck was to be depicted, and the coin had to have a pearl circle. On the reverse or denomination side only the Imperial Eagle to a certain design was allowed. In addition, further silver coins were issued in denominations of 20 pfennigs, 50 pfennigs and 1 Mark. However, these were not stamped with a portrait of a ruler, since they were not issued by individual states.[1]
In 1908, 3 Mark coins were minted for the first time, for which the same provisions applied as for the 2 and 5 Mark coins.[1]
The provisions of 1873 were relaxed by the Coinage Act of 1 June 1909; other motifs could now also be depicted on commemorative coins, and the pearl circle was no longer mandatory; the value side was also allowed to have a different design.[1]
Some coins were produced in very high numbers, such as the circulation and commemorative coins of the Kingdom of Prussia. In smaller territories with a correspondingly small population, on the other hand, there were significantly lower numbers especially of commemorative coins. Due to the First World War, on the other hand, only 100 examples were minted of the Saxon 3 Mark commemorative coin marking the 400th anniversary in 1917 and issues commemorating state anniversaries in Hesse (1917) and Bavaria (1918) were only minted in low numbers.[1]
The coins were valid throughout the Empire, so that coins from Baden could also be used in Prussia, for example.[1]
The silver coins of the Empire were minted at nine different mints:[1]
| Mint symbol | Place | Period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Berlin | from 1872 | |
| B | Hanover | 1872–1878 | |
| C | Frankfurt | 1872–1879 | |
| D | Munich | from 1872 | |
| E | Dresden | 1872–1887 | |
| Muldenhütten | 1887–1953 | ||
| F | Stuttgart | from 1872 | |
| G | Karlsruhe | from 1872 | |
| H | Darmstadt | 1872–1882 | |
| J | Hamburg | from 1875 |
The smaller silver coins of the German Empire were issued from 1873 at nominal values of 20 Pfennig and 1 Mark. 50 Pfennig coins were struck by the mints from 1875. As early as 1877 the 20 Pfennig silver coins were replaced by those made of cupro-nickel. From 1891 the design changed slightly as it did also on the higher denominations: now the Imperial Eagle depicted a small coat of arms instead of the larger coat of arms used up to that point. After 1903 no more coins with the nominal value 50 Pfennig were struck; instead these coins bore the nominal value of ½ Mark.[1]
| Denominations | Obverse | Reverse | Minting period | Weight | Diameter of the coin | Edge design | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Pfennig | 1873–1877 | 1.111 g | 16.0 mm | 110 notches | |||
| 50 Pfennig | 1875–1877 | 2.778 g | 20.0 mm | 126 notches | |||
| 50 Pfennig | 1877–1878 | 2.778 g | 20.0 mm | 126 notches | |||
| 50 Pfennig | 1896 1898 1900–1903 | 2.778 g | 20.0 mm | 126 notches | |||
| ½ Mark | 1905–1919 | 2.778 g | 20.0 mm | 90 notches | |||
| 1 Mark | 1873–1883 1885–1887 | 5.556 g | 24.0 mm | 140 notches | |||
| 1 Mark | 1891–1894 1896 1898–1916 | 5.556 g | 24.0 mm | 140 notches |
They were produced in all the mints, although several did not produce all the denominations in every year.
These coins, like the 2, 3 and 5 Mark pieces, were made from 900/1000 silver.[1]
All coins were made of 900/1000 silver.
The 2 Mark coins are 11.111 grams in weight and have a diameter of 28 mm.
The 3 Mark coins are 16.667 grams in weight and have a diameter of 33 mm.
The 5 Mark coins are 27.778 grams in weight and have a diameter of 38 mm.
In general a Mark represented 5 grams of silver. A 5 Mark silver coin thus contained 25 g silver; by contrast there were also 5 Mark gold coins with a content of 1.79 g of gold.
The Imperial Eagle is depicted on the reverse of the silver coins. There are two variants: the eagle with a large coat of arms ("little eagle") and the eagle with a small coat of arms ("big eagle"). The former was used until 1889, the latter from 1891. No silver coins were minted in between those dates.[1]
The inscription reads:
GERMAN EMPIRE --year--
--Value--
The 1909 coinage allowed the value side to be changed as well:[1]
The edge of the 2 Mark coin is milled with 140 notches, while the perimeter of the 3 and 5 Mark coins are stamped with the inscription GOTT with UNS ("God with Us"). Between the words are two arabesques with an iron cross between them.[1]
The following is a table of the silver coins issued by the German Empire.[1]
Legend:
Face Value: The face value of a coin is the denomination stated on the coin and at which the coins were most often issued.
Year of Issue: The year of issue is the year in which a particular coin was minted and issued.
Circulation/commemorative coin: A circulation coin is one without a specified reason for issue. It depicts only the portrait of the prince or the coat of arms of the city. In addition, it is usually issued over several years. A commemorative coin is one issued for a specific occasion, such as a state anniversary or the ruler's birthday. These coins were each only produced in one year. However, like the circulation coins, they were official means of payment.
Occasion/Motif: The occasion of a commemorative coin or the motif of a circulation coin is given here.
Mint: The coins were mostly only produced by one mint (see above) listed here.
Minted condition:
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Duchy of Anhalt Capital: Dessau; area: 2,299 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1876 | Circulation coin Frederick I | A | 200,000 | – | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1896 | Commemorative coin 25th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I | A | 50,000 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1896 | Commemorative coin 25th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I | A | 10,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1904 | Commemorative coin Inauguration of the reign of Frederick II | A | 50,000 | 150 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1909 1911 | Circulation coin Frederick II | A | 100,000 100,000 | 100 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1914 | Commemorative coin Silver wedding of Frederick II and Marie | A | 200,000 | 1,000 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1914 | Commemorative coin Silver wedding of Frederick II and Marie | A | 30,000 | 1,000 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Grand Duchy of Baden Capital: Karlsruhe; area: 15,069 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1876 1877 1880 1883 1888 | Circulation coin Frederick I | G | 1,739,038 763,927 74,000 45,493 75,279 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1874–1876 1888 | Circulation coin Frederick I | G | 786,994 30,111 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1892 1894 1896 1898–1902 | Circulation coin Frederick I | G | 106,750 106,750 213,520 1,093,412 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1891 1893–1895 1898–1902 | Circulation coin Frederick I | G | 42,700 177,033 491,605 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1902 | Commemorative coin 50th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I | G | 375,018 | – | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1902 | Commemorative coin 50th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I | G | 50,024 | – | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1902–1907 | Circulation coin Frederick I | G | 3,444,401 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1902–1904 1907 | Circulation coin Frederick I | G | 805,119 243,821 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1906 | Commemorative coin Golden wedding of Frederick I and Louise | G | 350,000 | – | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1906 | Commemorative coin Golden wedding of Frederick I and Louise | G | 60,000 | – | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1907 | Commemorative coin Death of Frederick I | G | 350,002 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1907 | Commemorative coin Death of Frederick I | G | 60,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1911 1913 | Circulation coin Frederick II | G | 77,000 289,690 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1908–1915 | Circulation coin Frederick II | G | 3,464,251 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1908 1913 | Circulation coin Frederick II | G | 281,568 244,000 | available | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Kingdom of Bavaria Capital: Munich; area: 75,865 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1876 1877 1880 1883 | Circulation coin Louis II | D | 5,370,139 1,511,500 168,974 104,217 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1874–1876 | Circulation coin Louis II | D | 1,871,266 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1888 | Circulation coin Otto | D | 172,368 | – | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1888 | Circulation coin Otto | D | 68,947 | – | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1891 1893 1896 1898–1908 1912–1913 | Circulation coin Otto | D | 246,050 246,050 492,131 12,733,516 311,350 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1891 1893–1896 1898–1908 1913 | Circulation coin Otto | D | 98,420 407,741 4,420,268 420,000 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1908–1913 | Circulation coin Otto | D | 6,592,442 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1911 | Commemorative coin 90th birthday and 25th anniversary of the reign of Prince Regent Luitpold | D | 640,000 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1911 | Commemorative coin 90th birthday and 25th anniversary of the reign of Prince Regent Luitpold | D | 639,721 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1911 | Commemorative coin 90th birthday and 25th anniversary of the reign of Prince Regent Luitpold | D | 160,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1914 | Circulation coin Louis III | D | 573,533 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1914 | Circulation coin Louis III | D | 717,460 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1914 | Circulation coin Louis III | D | 142,400 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1918 | Commemorative coin Golden wedding of Louis III and Maria Theresa | D | 130 | 5 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Duchy of Brunswick Capital: Brunswick; area: 3,672 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 3 Mark | 1915 | Commemorative coin Inauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus; Marriage to Victoria Louise (without Lüneburg in the title) | A | few | ca. 1,700 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1915 | Commemorative coin Inauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus; Marriage to Victoria Louise (without Lüneburg in the title) | A | few | ca. 1,400 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1915 | Commemorative coin Inauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus; Marriage to Victoria Louise | A | 31,634 | – | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1915 | Commemorative coin Inauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus; Mariage to Victoria Louise | A | 8,600 | available | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Free Hanseatic City of Bremen Capital: Bremen; area: 256 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1904 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen | J | 100,000 | 200 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1906 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen | J | 40,846 | 600 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Capital: Hamburg; area: 415 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1876–1878 1880 1883 1888 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg | J | 4,811,142 98,936 60,446 99,820 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1875–1876 1888 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg | J | 1,215,661 40,363 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1892–1893 1896 1898–1908 1911–1914 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg | J | 286,775 286,434 7,329,908 715,833 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1908–1914 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg | J | 4,654,966 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1891 1893–1896 1898–1908 1913 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg | J | 59,409 234,400 2,585,475 326,800 | available | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Grand Duchy of Hesse Capital: Darmstadt; area: 7,688 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1876–1877 | Circulation coin Louis III | H | 540,108 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1875–1876 | Circulation coin Louis III | H | 438,485 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1888 | Circulation coin Louis IV | A | 22,350 | 500 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1888 | Circulation coin Louis IV | A | 8,940 | 400 | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1891 | Circulation coin Louis IV | A | 62,650 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1891 | Circulation coin Louis IV | A | 25,060 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1895–1896 1898–1900 | Circulation coin Ernest Louis | A | 62,650 96,600 | 200 688 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1895 1898–1900 | Circulation coin Ernest Louis | A | 39,380 73,280 | 200 566 | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1904 | Commemorative coin 400th birthday Philip the Magnanimous | A | 100,000 | 2,250 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1904 | Commemorative coin 400th birthday Philip the Magnanimous | A | 40,000 | 700 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1910 | Circulation coin Ernest Louis | A | 200,000 | 500 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1917 | Commemorative coin 25th anniversary of the reign of Ernest Louis | A | few | ca. 1,330 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Principality of Lippe Capital: Detmold; area: 1,215 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1906 | Circulation coin Leopold IV | A | 20,000 | 1,100 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1913 | Circulation coin Leopold IV | A | 15,000 | 100 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Free City of Lübeck Capital: Lübeck; area: 298 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1901 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck | A | 25,000 | 250 | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1904–1907 1911–1912 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck | A | 100,000 50,000 | 578 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1908–1914 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck | A | 174,002 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1904 1907–1908 1913 | Circulation coin Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck | A | 10,000 20,000 6,000 | 200 available | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Capital: Schwerin; area: 13,127 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1876 | Circulation coin Frederick Francis II | A | 300,000 | – | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1901 | Commemorative coin Inauguration of the reign of Frederick Francis IV on coming of age | A | 50,000 | 1,000 | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1904 | Commemorative coin Wedding of Frederick Francis IV and Alexandra | A | 100,000 | 6,000 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1904 | Commemorative coin Wedding of Frederick Francis IV and Alexandra | A | 40,000 | 2,500 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1915 | Commemorative coin Centenary of the Grand Duchy | A | 33,334 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1915 | Commemorative coin Centenary of the Grand Duchy | A | 10,000 | available | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Capital: Neustrelitz; area: 2,929 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1877 | Circulation coin Frederick William | A | 100,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1905 | Circulation coin Adolphus Frederick V | A | 10,000 | 2,500 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1913 | Circulation coin Adolphus Frederick V | A | 7,000 | available | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Grand Duchy of Oldenburg Capital: Oldenburg; area: 6,424 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1891 | Circulation coin Nicolas Frederick Peter | A | 100,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1900–1901 | Circulation coin Frederick Augustus | A | 175,000 | 260 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1900–1901 | Circulation coin Frederick Augustus | A | 30,000 | 170 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Kingdom of Prussia Capital: Berlin; area: 348,780 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint(n) | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1876–1877 1879–1880 1883–1884 | Circulation coin William I | A, B, C A A | 28,827,953 693,975 304,640 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1874–1876 | Circulation coin William I | A, B, C | 7,562,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1888 | Circulation coin Frederick III | A | 500,000 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1888 | Circulation coin Frederick III | A | 200,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1888 | Circulation coin William II | A | 140,512 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1888 | Circulation coin William II | A | 56,204 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1891–1893 1896 1898–1908 1911–1912 | Circulation coin William II | A | 1,674,000 1,771,853 45,395,392 1,914,288 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1908–1912 | Circulation coin William II | A | 22,660,469 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1891–1896 1898–1904 1906–1908 | Circulation coin William II | A | 1,886,723 11,273,459 5,363,880 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1901 | Commemorative coin 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of Prussia | A | 2,600,000 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1901 | Commemorative coin 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of Prussia | A | 460,000 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1910 | Commemorative coin Centenary of the University of Berlin | A | 200,000 | 2,000 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1911 | Commemorative coin Centenary of the University of Breslau | A | 400,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1913 | Commemorative coin Centenary of the Wars of Liberation against France | A | 1,500,000 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1913 | Commemorative coin Centenary of the Wars of Liberation against France | A | 2,000,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1913 | Commemorative coin 25th anniversary of the reign of William II | A | 1,500,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1913 | Commemorative coin 25th anniversary of the reign of William II | A | 2,000,000 | 6,000 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1914 | Commemorative coin 25th anniversary of the reign of William II (without laurel branch and date) | A | 2,564,101 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1913–1914 | Commemorative coin 25th anniversary of the reign of William II (without laurel branch and date) | A | 3,548,891 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1915 | Commemorative coin Centenary of the accession of the County of Mansfeld to the Prussia | A | 30,000 | 550 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Principality of Reuss Elder Line Capital: Greiz; area: 316 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1877 | Circulation coin Henry XXII | B | 20,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1892 | Circulation coin Henry XXII | A | 10,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1899 1901 | Circulation coin Henry XXII | A | 10,000 10,000 | 120 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1909 | Circulation coin Henry XXIV | A | 10,000 | 400 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Principality of Reuss Younger Line Capital: Gera; area: 827 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1884 | Circulation coin Henry XIV | A | 100,000 | available | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Kingdom of Saxony Capital: Dresden; area: 14,995 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1876–1877 1879–1880 1883 1888 | Circulation coin Albert | E | 2,409,431 93,619 55,700 90,995 | – | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1875–1876 1889 | Circulation coin Albert | E | 1,129,109 36,397 | – | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1891 1893 1895–1896 1898–1902 | Circulation coin Albert | E | 130,375 130,375 260,802 1,874,049 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1891 1893–1895 1898–1902 | Circulation coin Albert | E | 52,150 216,249 715,964 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1902 | Commemorative coin Death of Albert | E | 167,625 | 250 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1902 | Commemorative coin Death of Albert | E | 100,000 | 250 | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1903–1904 | Circulation coin George | E | 2,011,984 | >50 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1903–1904 | Circulation coin George | E | 826,941 | 50 | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1904 | Commemorative coin Death of George | E | 150,000 | 55 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1904 | Commemorative coin Death of George | E | 37,200 | 70 | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1905–1908 1911–1912 1914 | Circulation coin Frederick Augustus III | E | 2,570,909 353,875 298,000 | available | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1908–1913 | Circulation coin Frederick Augustus III | E | 3,485,188 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1907–1908 1914 | Circulation coin Frederick Augustus III | E | 715,344 298,000 | available | ||||||
| 2 Mark | 1909 | Commemorative coin 500th anniversary of the University of Leipzig | E | 125,000 | 300 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1909 | Commemorative coin 500th anniversary of the University of Leipzig | E | 50,000 | 300 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1913 | Commemorative coin Centenary of the Battle of Leipzig | E | 999,999 | 17,000 | ||||||
| 3 Mark | 1917 | Commemorative coin Commemorative coin on the 400th anniversary of the Reformation in 1917 | E | – | 100 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg Capital: Altenburg; area: 1,324 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1901 | Commemorative coin 75th birthday of Ernest I | A | 50,000 | 500 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1901 | Commemorative coin 75th birthday of Ernest I | A | 20,000 | 500 | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1903 | Commemorative coin 50th anniversary of the reign of Ernest I | A | 20,000 | 300 | ||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" | Duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Capitals: Gotha and Coburg; area: 1,956 km2 | ||||||||||
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted |
| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS | bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF | ||||||||
| 2 Mark | 1895 | Circulation coin Alfred | A | 15,000 | available | ||||||
| 5 Mark | 1895 | Circulation coin Alfred | A | 4,000 | – | ||||||
| | 2 Mark| 1905 1911| Circulation coin Charles Edward| A| style="text-align:right" | 10,000 | style="text-align:right" | 2,000 100|-| 5 Mark| 1907| Circulation coin Charles Edward| A| style="text-align:right" | 10,000| style="text-align:center" | –|-| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" |Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen Capital: Meiningen; area: 2,468 km2|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF|-| rowspan="2" | | 2 Mark| 1901| Commemorative coin 75th birthday of George II| D| style="text-align:right" | 20,000| style="text-align:center" | –|-| 5 Mark| 1901| Commemorative coin 75th birthday of George II| D| style="text-align:right" | 20,000| style="text-align:center" | –|-| rowspan="3" | | 2 Mark| 1902 1913| Circulation coin George II| D| style="text-align:right" | 20,000 5000| style="text-align:right" | available|-| 3 Mark| 1908 1913| Circulation coin George II| D| style="text-align:right" | 35,000 20,000| style="text-align:right" | available|-| 5 Mark| 1902 1908| Circulation coin George II| D| style="text-align:right" | 20,000 60,000| style="text-align:center" | –|-| rowspan="2" | | 2 Mark| 1915| Commemorative coin Death of George II| D| style="text-align:right" | 30,000| style="text-align:right" | available|-| 3 Mark| 1915| Commemorative coin Death of George II| D| style="text-align:right" | 30,000| style="text-align:right" | available|-| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" |Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Capital: Weimar; area: 3,595 km2|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF|-| rowspan="2" | | 2 Mark| 1892| Commemorative coin Golden wedding of Charles Alexander and Sophie| A| style="text-align:right" | 50,000| style="text-align:right" | available|-| 2 Mark| 1898| Commemorative coin 80th birthday of Charles Alexander| A| style="text-align:right" | 100,000| style="text-align:right" | available|-|| 2 Mark| 1901| Commemorative coin Inauguration of the reign of William Ernest| A| style="text-align:right" | 100,000| style="text-align:right" | available|-| rowspan="2" | | 2 Mark| 1903| Commemorative coin Marriage of William Ernest and Caroline| A| style="text-align:right" | 40,000| style="text-align:right" | 1,000|-| 5 Mark| 1903| Commemorative coin Marriage of William Ernest and Caroline| A| style="text-align:right" | 24,000| style="text-align:right" | 1,000|-| rowspan="2" | | 2 Mark| 1908| Commemorative coin 350th anniversary of the University of Jena| A| style="text-align:right" | 50,000| style="text-align:center" | –|-| 5 Mark| 1908| Commemorative coin 350th anniversary of the University of Jena| A| style="text-align:right" | 40,000| style="text-align:center" | –|-|style="text-align:center"|| 3 Mark| 1910| Commemorative coin Marriage of William Ernest and Feodora| A| style="text-align:right" | 133,000| style="text-align:right" | available|-|style="text-align:center"|| 3 Mark| 1915| Commemorative coin Centenary of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach| A| style="text-align:right" | 50,000| style="text-align:right" | 200|-| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" |Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe Capital: Bückeburg; area: 340 km2|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF|-| rowspan="2" || 2 Mark| 1898 1904| Circulation coin George| A| style="text-align:right" | 5,000 5,000| style="text-align:right" | 162 200|-| 5 Mark| 1898 1904| Circulation coin George| A| style="text-align:right" | 3,000 3,000| style="text-align:right" | 90 200|-|style="text-align:center"|| 3 Mark| 1911| Commemorative coin Death of George| A| style="text-align:right" | 50,000| style="text-align:right" | available|-| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" |Principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Capital: Rudolstadt; area: 941 km2|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF|-|style="text-align:center"|| 2 Mark| 1898| Circulation coin Günther Victor| A| style="text-align:right" | 100,000| style="text-align:right" | 375|-| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" |Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Capital: Sondershausen; area: 862 km2|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF|-|| 2 Mark| 1896| Circulation coin Charles Günther| A| style="text-align:right" | 50,000| style="text-align:right" | 190|-|style="text-align:center"|| 2 Mark| 1905| Commemorative coin 25th anniversary of the reign Charles Günther| A| style="text-align:right" | 75,000| style="text-align:right" | 10,000|-|style="text-align:center"|| 3 Mark| 1909| Commemorative coin Death of Charles Günther| A| style="text-align:right" | 70,000| style="text-align:right" | >100|-| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" |Principalities of Waldeck and Pyrmont Capitals: Arolsen and Pyrmont; area: 1,121 km2|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF|-|| 5 Mark| 1903| Circulation coin Frederick| A| style="text-align:right" | 2,000| style="text-align:right" | 300|-| bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="7" |Kingdom of Württemberg Capital: Stuttgart; area: 19,507 km2|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Image! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Denominations! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Year(s) of issue! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Circulation/Commemorative coin Occasion/motif! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 rowspan="2" | Location of mint! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 colspan="2" | Number minted|-! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | MS! bgcolor=#DCE5E5 | PF|-|| 2 Mark| 1876–1877 1880 1883 1888| Circulation coin Charles| F| style="text-align:right" | 2,661,777 128,943 73,872 123,140| style="text-align:right" | available|-|style="text-align:center"|| 5 Mark| 1874–1876 1888| Circulation coin Charles| F| style="text-align:right" | 1,326,926 49,258| style="text-align:right" | available|-| rowspan="3" | | 2 Mark| 1892–1893 1896 1898–1908 1912–1914| Circulation coin William II| F| style="text-align:right" | 351,055 351,031 9,115,537 794,753| style="text-align:right" | available|-| 3 Mark| 1908–1914| Circulation coin William II| F| style="text-align:right" | 5,318,469||-| 5 Mark| 1892–1895 1898–1908 1913| Circulation coin William II| F| style="text-align:right" | 361,134 3,237,225 401,200| style="text-align:right" | available|-|style="text-align:center"|| 3 Mark| 1911| Commemorative coin Silver wedding of William II and Charlotte| F| style="text-align:right" | 500,000| style="text-align:right" | available|-|| 3 Mark| 1916| Commemorative coin 25th anniversary of the reign William II| F| style="text-align:right" | 1,000| style="text-align:center" | –|} FeaturesEmbossing errors/deviationsThe following embossing variations are known:
Other features
In Prussia, in 1915, a commemorative mint was planned for Bismarck's 100th birthday. The fact that, due to high demand, the number of coins would have exceeded 100 million and thus been higher than the number for the Wars of Liberation coin or 25th anniversary of William II's reign (about 9 million), showed Bismarck's greater popularity over the Emperor, which is why the plan was dropped. See alsoLiteratureBasis of the article
Other sources
External links |