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- Spot Silver Price: $32.32
Silver coins were in regular circulation in German States. The values below represent the intrinsic value of silver coins from German States.
German States silver coins that are in uncirculated condition, or that may be rare and collectible may also have numismatic value. You can use this table as a guide when buying and selling circulated silver coins from German States.
The melt values are calculated and displayed in USD based on the today's silver spot price of $32.32 per troy ounce.
| Denomination / Currency | Years Minted | Fineness | Gross Weight (g) | ASW (g) | ASW (oz t) | Melt Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mark | 1891- 1917 | .900 | 11.11 | 10.00 | .3215 | $10.39 |
| 3 Mark | 1891- 1917 | .900 | 16.67 | 15.00 | .4824 | $15.59 |
| 5 Mark | 1891- 1917 | .900 | 27.78 | 25.00 | .8038 | $25.98 |
The history of silver coins in the German states is rich and varied, reflecting the complex political and economic landscape of the region over centuries.
During the reign of Charlemagne (768-814), the Carolingian Empire standardized the denarius (pfennig in German), a silver coin that became the dominant currency in the region.
The pfennig continued to be the primary coin under the Ottonian (919-1024) and Salian (1024-1125) dynasties.
As the Holy Roman Empire fragmented during the 12th to 15th Centuries into numerous semi-autonomous states, local rulers began issuing their own silver coins. The pfennig remained common, but its weight and silver content varied widely.
In the early 1500s, the Habsburgs began minting the guldengroschen, a large silver coin. This evolved into the thaler (or taler), which became a standard large-denomination coin across many German states.
The Protestant Reformation (1517 onwards) and the subsequent religious conflicts saw numerous states issuing their own coinage, often featuring local rulers and symbols.
This devastating conflict of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) led to widespread economic turmoil and debasement of coinage. Many states issued emergency coinage with lower silver content.
After the war, efforts were made to stabilize the currency. The Leipzig Convention of 1690 aimed to standardize the thaler across the Holy Roman Empire.
Despite efforts at standardization, the political fragmentation of the Holy Roman Empire meant that hundreds of different silver coins were in circulation.
Prussia, under Frederick the Great (1740-1786), became a significant issuer of silver coinage, including the Prussian thaler.
The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) further disrupted the coinage system. After the wars, the German Confederation (1815-1866) was established, but coinage remained fragmented.
Established in 1834, the Zollverein aimed to create a common economic area in Germany, which included efforts to standardize coinage.
The unification of Germany in 1871 under the German Empire led to the introduction of the gold mark in 1873, which replaced many regional currencies but still included silver coins like the 1-mark, 2-mark, and 5-mark pieces.