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The Goldmark (officially: just Mark) was the name used for the coinage of the German Empire from 1873 to 1914.

Contents 1 History 2 Coins 2.1 Gold coins 2.2 Silver coins 2.3 Base metal coins 3 Banknotes

Before unification, the different German states had issued a variety of different currencies, though most were linked to the Vereinsthaler, a silver coin containing 16⅔ grams of pure silver. Although the Mark was based on gold rather than silver, a fixed exchange rate between the Vereinsthaler and the Mark of 3 Mark = 1 Vereinsthaler was used for the conversion. Southern Germany had used the Gulden as the standard unit of account, which was worth ⁴⁄₇ of a Vereinsthaler and hence, became worth 1.71 (1⁵⁄₇) Mark in the new currency. Bremen had used a gold based Thaler which was converted directly to the Mark at a rate of 1 gold Thaler = 3.32 (3⁹⁄₂₈) Mark. Hamburg had used its own Mark prior to 1873. This was replaced by the Goldmark at a rate of 1 Hamburg Mark = 1.2 Goldmark.

From January 1, 1876 onwards, the Mark became the only legal tender. The name Goldmark was created later to distinguish them from the Papiermark (paper mark) which suffered a massive loss of value through hyperinflation following the First World War.

The Mark was on a gold standard with 2790 Mark equal to 1 kilogram of pure gold.

Coins of denominations between 1 Pfennig and 1 Mark were issued in standard designs for the whole Empire, whilst those above 1 Mark were issued by the individual states, using a standard design for the reverses (the Reichsadler, the eagle insignia of the German Empire) with a design specific to the state on the obverse, generally a portrait of the monarch, with the free cities of Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck using their city insignia. Many of the smaller states issued coins in very small numbers and these are thus extremely rare and valuable. The principality of Lippe was the only state not to issue any gold coins in this period.[1] [2]

Gold coins were minted in 90% gold to a standard of 2790 Mark = 1 kilogram of gold. Gold coin production ceased in 1915.

• 20 Mark, 7.965 g (7.1685 g gold)
• 10 Mark, 3.9825 g (3.5842 g gold)
• 5 Mark, 1.9912 g (1.7921 g gold)

Silver coins were minted in 90% silver to a standard of 5 g silver per Mark. In 1915, production of 2 and 5 Mark coins ceased, although 1 Mark coins continued to be issued until 1916, a few 3 Mark coins was minted until 1918 and ½ Mark coins continuing in silver until 1919.

• 5 Mark, 27.7778 g (25 g silver)
• 3 Mark, 16.6667 g (15 g silver), from 1908 onwards
• 2 Mark, 11.1111 g (10 g silver)
• 1 Mark, 5.5555 g (5 g silver)
• ½ Mark or 50 Pfennig, 2.7778 g (2.5 g silver)
• 20 Pfennig, 1.1111 g (1 g silver), only until 1878

The 3 Mark coin was introduced as a replacement for the Vereinsthaler coins of the previous currency, whose silver content was slightly more than that of the 3 Mark coin.

• 50 Pfennig (Aluminium, 1919-1922)
• 25 Pfennig (Nickel, 1909-1912)
• 20 Pfennig (Cupro-nickel, 1887-1892)
• 10 Pfennig (Cupro-nickel: 1873-1916, iron and zinc: 1915-1922)
• 5 Pfennig (Cupro-nickel: 1873-1915, iron: 1915-1922)
• 2 Pfennig (Copper to 1916 then discontinued)
• 1 Pfennig (Copper: 1873-1916, aluminium: 1916-1918)

Banknotes were issued by the Imperial Treasury (known as "Reichskassenschein") and the Reichsbank, as well as by the banks of some of the states. Imperial Treasury notes were issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 Mark, whilst Reichsbank notes were produced in denominations of 20, 50, 100 and 1000 Mark.

The notes issued after 1914 are referred to as Papiermark.

Banknote series

Preceded by: Vereinsthaler Location: many German states Reason: German unification Ratio: 1 Mark = 1/3 Vereinsthaler	Currency of Germany 1873 – 1914	Succeeded by: German Papiermark Ratio: at par
Preceded by: South German Gulden Location: southern Germany incl. Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, Frankfurt and Hohenzollern Reason: German unification Ratio: 1 Mark = 7/12 Gulden
Preceded by: Bremen Thaler Location: Bremen Reason: German unification Ratio: 1 Mark = 28/93 Thaler, or 3 9/28 Mark = 1 Thaler
Preceded by: Hamburg Mark Location: Hamburg Reason: German unification Ratio: 1 new Mark = 5/6 Hamburg Mark