German Mint

History behind the Mint

Germany has a rich and dynamic history that has enabled it to become Europe’s economic leader in the twenty-first century. Julius Caesar was the first to refer to much of what is modern-day Germany as distinct region. Though much of its history was marked by tribalism, it was also part of the Holy Roman Empire. After the decline of the Empire, the region split up into states, including Prussia, Bavaria, and Saxony. Chancellor Otto von Bismark oversaw the creation of the German Empire in 1871. The Empire emerged as a regional power and grew in prominence leading up to the First World War, after which it struggled. Nationalism led it to the Second World War, which left the nation in rubble. Within fewer than three decades, West Germany showcased its resurgence as a powerful yet peaceful country when it hosted the 1972 Olympics. On October 3, 1990, the Berlin Wall came down and Germany entered a turbulent but ultimately successful reunification process. Today, it is engine that drives the European economy. Its mints tell much of this long history.

Today, Germany has five functioning mints, one of which has two branches. Each of these mints was established at a different point in German history. The oldest of them is the Hamburg Mint, which dates back to 834, the early days of the Holy Roman Empire. The Bavarian Central Mint is the second oldest among them. It was founded in 1158, in the heart of the Crusades. Just over 500 years later, the Stuttgart Mint was established. In 1998, that mint merged with the Karlsruche Mint, which was created in 1827, just a dozen years after the establishment of the German Confederation. In between the establishment of those two mints, the Berlin Mint began operations in 1750. That date marked the start of a rapid increase in the population of what would become 1914 Germany. The population grew from 17 million to 24 million during that time.

Today and Beyond

As one would expect from such a long and diverse history, German Mints have struck a wide variety of coins over the centuries. Some of the most popular are 200 Mark coins from the days of the Weimar Republic. These aluminum coins are highly instructive for students and teachers of monetary history. They were struck during a period of devastating inflation. Some, including the ones that we have on offer, remain in excellent condition.

Today, these mints create German euro coins, which drive the European economy. In fact, today’s euro is considered the successor to the deutschmark, the German currency prior to Europe’s adoption of a common currency. Some of the mints also produce coins for foreign governments. One example of this is the Stuttgart Mint’s production of euro coins for Latvia.