RE: Some interesting EG medallians

[Mike G.]

Some interesting EG Medallians:

[Mike G.]

Well...sort of...except.....they're not medallians - They're money.

That's right - money. I think we are all familiar with the strange aluminum coinage that passed for East German "Hard" currency. You know - the stuff that actually couldn't wear a hole in your pants pocket, no matter how long you carried it there?

Well, starting at about the 1 East German Mark coin and up, they actually produced money that was made of real medal - you know, the kind that you could feel in your pants pocket - so you knew you could buy another beer.

[Mike G.]

And to the surprise of some, they actually at least in 69, produced both small and large "Hard Currency" coinage in what appears to be possibly a combination of brass and copper? Not sure. But the money feels like money.

Here are a 1969 twenty pfennig piece and 5 Mark (EG Mark) piece.

[Mike G.]

The reverse:

[Christophe]

Some interesting EG Medallians:

Mike,

Really interesting this piece of East German currencies history.
I really do like the Berlin Alexanderplatz one !!

Cheers.

Ch.

[Mike G.]

Hi Christophe,

The one I personally find interesting is the one produced in 1990. It is styled after the old Prussian era. And that it was produced in 1990 also strikes me as interesting, as Helmet Kohl was already permitting the East Germans to trade their currency in to West Germany for the equivalent of one East German Mark for one West German Mark - an exchange rate heretofore unprecedented, and I'm sure, irresistable to the East German populace. Kind of a "Pied Piper" thing I suspect, to lure them away from any sense of autonomy, thereby setting the stage for unity.

[Christophe]

Mike,

Would it be possible this "1990" coin has been made at the end of 1989, and stamped "1990" in prevision of a circulation only a few weeks / months later ?
Or did they strictly apply the dates rules : coined in 1989 is "1989", coined in 1990 is "1990".
But in all cases, you are right this is interesting... and a nice set.

Ch.

[Mike G.]

Hi Christophe,

Like you, I would imagine the coinage was already produced in 1989 or at the very beginning of 1990. They didn't see it coming.

[Christophe]

Mike,

Any idea of the value of these coins today ?

Ch.

[Mike G.]

I once read somewhere that certain coins actually had a very high value (Perhaps to people who collect coins specifically). I've not ever really looked into this. Believe it or not, all of the East German money (coins that is) I have, are left over money from my numerous excursions into East Berlin. Somewhere, I've got a bag full of the smaller denomination coins (Pfennig type currency) with the type of 1949 insignia Michael C. posted, where instead of a hammer and the compass, there is just the wheat and some sort of a Cog Wheel. One of these days I'll have to try and dig it out.

[Christophe]

Mike,
Good luck.
I have a trip planned in Germany next month. I'll have a quick look to shops selling coins, to give me an idea...

Ch.

[skip]

Well you don´t see many of those around anymore Mike. I guess most of the "Ossis" traded it for West German currency.

In fact there is a whole series of special East German coins showing famous people and events from german history. Some of these are very sort after by coin collectors.