Prior to the issuance of a common currency known as the Euro throughout Eurozone, each individual nation issued its own denominations of coinage and paper money. Among the more well known was the German Deutschemark. Used from the end of World War II through German unification, the Deutschemark was the latest national currency to use that name “mark.” Prior to the Deutschemark, the German Empire issued German Marks. The 20 Mark Gold Coin from Germany is available to you for online purchase today at Silver.com.
Coin Highlights:
- Ships to you housed in a protective plastic package!
- Issued between 1871 and 1915!
- Availability is limited!
- Consists of .2304 Troy ounces of actual gold content.
- Issued a face value of 20 Marks by the German Empire.
- On the coin’s obverse is the image of a German Emperor at the time of issue.
- Reverse features the German Empires’ coat of arms: the crowned imperial eagle.
Prior to the unification of various German states into the German Empire, these states issued their own coinage with differing denominations. It wasn’t until 1876 that the German Mark was established as the only legal tender for the empire, but as early as 1871 there were German Marks issued in gold and silver.
The 20 Mark Gold Coins in this listing were issued by the Reichsbank between 1871 and 1915, when the empire suspended the production of most silver and gold coins during World War I. You’ll find one of three German Emperors featured on the obverse field of the coins available in this listing.
The first of them is Wilhelm I, who was King of Prussia from 1861 until his death and the first German Emperor from 1871 until his death. As King of Prussia, Wilhelm I united the German states to form the German Empire. 20 Mark Gold Coins issued from 1871 to 1888 bear his effigy on the obverse.
Wilhelm I was succeeded by his only son, Frederick III, as German Emperor in March 1888 and ruled for just 99 days. After succumbing to throat cancer, Frederick III was succeeded by his son Wilhelm II. Coins issued in portions of 1888 bear Frederick III’s portrait, while coins from late 1888 through 1915 feature Wilhelm II.
On the obverse of the 20 Marks Gold Coin is the effigy of one of the aforementioned German Emperors. The individual monarch’s name is inscribed in German on this side, along with the titles of German Emperor and King of Prussia in German.
The reverse side of all 20 Mark German Gold Coins you’ll find the seal of the German Empire. The crowned eagle is shown with its wings spread wide and is encircled by inscriptions of “German Empire” in German, a year of issue, and the face value of 20 Marks. These coins are available in circulated condition and feature typical signs of wear and tear found in coins released into circulation.
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