Two Marks, German Eagle, Coin Type from Germany - detailed information

Two Marks, German Eagle, Coin Type from Germany (issued 1951 - 1951)
Coin TypeTwo Marks, German Eagle

The Two Marks coin, abbreviated 2 DM and known in English as 2 German Marks, was a relatively large circulating denomination of the Deutsche Mark (German mark), which was the official currency of West Germany from 1948 until 1990 and later of unified Germany from 1990 until 2002. The coinage was first issued under Allied occupation after World War II, by the "Bank deutscher Länder" (Bank of the German States) from 1950, then by the Deutsche Bundesbank (German Federal Bank) since 1957.

This type is called "2 Deutsche Mark I. Ausgabe" ("first issue") in German by the Deutsche Bundesbank and was a one-year type; it was struck by four different mints:
- Munich Mint - mint mark D
- Stuttgart Mint - mint mark F
- Karlsruhe Mint - mint mark G
- Hamburg Mint - mint mark J

The design and size of the coin were very similar to the 1 DM coin, which caused frequent confusion. Consequently, this type of 2 Marks was never issued again and was replaced by a new design featuring the portrait of Max Planck on the obverse.

Later designs were:
- 2 Marks with the portrait of Max Planck, issued from 1957 to 1971 and demonetised in 1973
- 2 Marks with the portrait of Konrad Adenauer, issued from 1969 to 1987
- 2 Marks with the portrait of Theodor Heuss, issued from 1970 to 1987
- 2 Marks with the portrait of Kurt Schumacher, issued from 1979 to 1993
- 2 Marks with the portrait of Ludwig Erhard, issued from 1988 to 2001
- 2 Marks with the portrait of Franz Josef Strauß (Strauss), issued from 1990 to 2001
- 2 Marks with the portrait of Willy Brandt, issued from 1994 to 2001

The 1951 coins are made of copper-nickel, with composition Cu (copper) 75%, Ni (nickel) 25% and are slightly smaller in diameter than the coins issued from 1969. The edge inscription, which remained the same throughout the history of the denomination, reads Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit, meaning "Unity and Justice and Freedom".

2 Mark coins with the German Federal Eagle were demonetised on 1st July 1958, after seven years in circulation.

Obverse
Germany / Two Marks, German Eagle - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin depicts, within a beaded circle, the Federal Eagle of Germany, being a one headed eagle, its head turned to the right, its wings open but with closed feathering.

All around, the legend · BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND ·, meaning Federal Republic of Germany.

The mint mark of the mint which struck the coin is a small letter under the eagle's tail.

Obverse Inscription · BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND ·
Reverse
Germany / Two Marks, German Eagle - reverse photo

Within a beaded circle, at centre of the reverse, a large numeral for the value: 2 flanked on both sides by stalks of rye, leaves and grapes; in two lines below that, the denomination DEUTSCHE MARK.

The date 1951 is around above.

Reverse Inscription 2 DEUTSCHE MARK 1951
EdgeInscribed (incuse lettering)Edge InscriptionEINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT
Coin Type: Two Marks, German Eagle - (1) Coins
Coin NameReverseObverseIn my collection(s)
Please sign up and/or log in to use collection management functionality.
Advertising
Buy Silver and Gold Bullion Online
Buy Silver and Gold Bullion Online
Two Marks, German Eagle: Details
CountryGermany
CurrencyDeutsche Mark
Sub-type ofTwo Marks
From1951
To1951
Face Value2 (x Mark)
CurrentNo (demonetised 1958)
MaterialCuproNickel
DesignerJosef Bernhart
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size25.5000 mm
Thickness1.8700 mm
Mass7.0000 g