Germany 1 euro, 2002
2 euro, 2002
Weight: 8.52 gm
Metal: bi-metallic brass centre with copper-nickel ring
Diameter: 25.6mm
Reverse: Map of Europe with denomination
Obverse: stylized eagle
Edge: reeded
The symbol on the reverse is the German eagle which is a symbol of soveriegnity. It is taken from the coat of arms of germany, which is one of the oldest extant state symbols in Germany, and one of the oldest insignia in Europe.
Origin/meaning:
The present arms were officially adopted on January 20, 1950.
The German eagle is already an old national symbol for the Kings and Emperors of Germany, or its predecessors (to make it easy, the former Empire is named Germany below, even though the name was not officially used until 1871).
Even though Charlemagne used an eagle as the national symbol around 800, he claimed to be the successor of the Roman Emperors, who already used an eagle, it was not until the end of the 12th century that the eagle was used in arms of the Emperors. Before the end of the 12th century the eagle sometimes appears as the national symbol, but mainly shown as a natural eagle.
The first known use of the eagle as arms of the Emperor or the Empire is a coin, minted in Maastricht (now in the Netherlands), dating from between 1172 and 1190. It shows a single-headed eagle
The use of an eagle was not limited to the German Emperors, at the same time the Counts of Saarwerden and Henneberg, the Kings of Bohemia, the Dukes of Austria and others used an eagle in their arms or as their symbol. In the 13th and 14th century many other noble families also used an eagle.
The Imperial Eagle was also used by all free cities, throughout the empire, examples are Mosbach, Aalen and, outside present Germany, Deventer.
The colours of the Imperial Eagle are already known from the 13th century, as being a black eagle on a golden field. These colours are thus also used by practically all Imperial cities. The origin of the colours is not known. It may be derived from the colours of the Staufen dynasty, who were the ruling dynasty at the time the arms were adopted. In any case, the basic colours have not changed since. The claws, legs, beak and tongue gradually became red. The first mentioning of red legs date from the early 14th century. The Zürich roll of arms from 1335 also shows a red tongue. The beak does not become red until the 18th century. Completely black eagles appear at the same time during the centuries.
The arms were covered by a crowned helmet with an eagle as a crest until 1330. In 1330, under the reign of Ludwig of Bavaria, the eagle in the crest was replaced by the wings of the Wittelsbach family (his dynasty). These remained until the 15th century. Afterwards crests are rarely used.
The original arms showed a single-headed eagle. Germany was an Empire, but after the death of an Emperor first a nobleman was chosen as King of Germany. He could be promoted to Emperor, but that did not always happen. Gradually thus two different arms appeared, a single-headed eagle for the Kings and a double-headed eagle for the Empire and the Emperor. The first mentioning of a double-headed eagle dates from 1250 in a roll of arms of Matthew of Paris for Emperor Friedrich II. In the next 180 years both arms were used indiscriminately. Emperor Sigismund finally decided the difference between the arms for the King and the Emperor.
After the First World War, the new Republic removed all Prussian symbols, and used a plain single-headed eagle. The arms are identical as the present arms.
During the Nazi reign, the old heraldic arms were completely removed. The new national symbol, the swastika, was now held by a stylistic eagle. Even though the national state did not use arms, it was encouraged for local councils to adopt heraldic arms.
After the Second World War Germany was divided into Western Germany and the German Democratic Republic. West Germany continued to use the old arms of the Republic. The GDR did not use true arms, but a typical socialist logo. At first (in the 1950ies), it included only the garland of corn and the hammer. The garland of corn symbolised the farmers and the hammer symbolised the labourers, because the GDR was a land, which was governed by the labourers and farmers (according to the official propaganda) Later the compass was supplemented, which symbolised intelligence and fine industry.
After the reunification, the old West German arms were continued.
Origin/meaning:
The present arms were officially adopted on January 20, 1950.
The German eagle is already an old national symbol for the Kings and Emperors of Germany, or its predecessors (to make it easy, the former Empire is named Germany below, even though the name was not officially used until 1871).
Even though Charlemagne used an eagle as the national symbol around 800, he claimed to be the successor of the Roman Emperors, who already used an eagle, it was not until the end of the 12th century that the eagle was used in arms of the Emperors. Before the end of the 12th century the eagle sometimes appears as the national symbol, but mainly shown as a natural eagle.
The first known use of the eagle as arms of the Emperor or the Empire is a coin, minted in Maastricht (now in the Netherlands), dating from between 1172 and 1190. It shows a single-headed eagle
The use of an eagle was not limited to the German Emperors, at the same time the Counts of Saarwerden and Henneberg, the Kings of Bohemia, the Dukes of Austria and others used an eagle in their arms or as their symbol. In the 13th and 14th century many other noble families also used an eagle.
The Imperial Eagle was also used by all free cities, throughout the empire, examples are Mosbach, Aalen and, outside present Germany, Deventer.
The colours of the Imperial Eagle are already known from the 13th century, as being a black eagle on a golden field. These colours are thus also used by practically all Imperial cities. The origin of the colours is not known. It may be derived from the colours of the Staufen dynasty, who were the ruling dynasty at the time the arms were adopted. In any case, the basic colours have not changed since. The claws, legs, beak and tongue gradually became red. The first mentioning of red legs date from the early 14th century. The Zürich roll of arms from 1335 also shows a red tongue. The beak does not become red until the 18th century. Completely black eagles appear at the same time during the centuries.
The arms were covered by a crowned helmet with an eagle as a crest until 1330. In 1330, under the reign of Ludwig of Bavaria, the eagle in the crest was replaced by the wings of the Wittelsbach family (his dynasty). These remained until the 15th century. Afterwards crests are rarely used.
The original arms showed a single-headed eagle. Germany was an Empire, but after the death of an Emperor first a nobleman was chosen as King of Germany. He could be promoted to Emperor, but that did not always happen. Gradually thus two different arms appeared, a single-headed eagle for the Kings and a double-headed eagle for the Empire and the Emperor. The first mentioning of a double-headed eagle dates from 1250 in a roll of arms of Matthew of Paris for Emperor Friedrich II. In the next 180 years both arms were used indiscriminately. Emperor Sigismund finally decided the difference between the arms for the King and the Emperor.
After the First World War, the new Republic removed all Prussian symbols, and used a plain single-headed eagle. The arms are identical as the present arms.
During the Nazi reign, the old heraldic arms were completely removed. The new national symbol, the swastika, was now held by a stylistic eagle. Even though the national state did not use arms, it was encouraged for local councils to adopt heraldic arms.
After the Second World War Germany was divided into Western Germany and the German Democratic Republic. West Germany continued to use the old arms of the Republic. The GDR did not use true arms, but a typical socialist logo. At first (in the 1950ies), it included only the garland of corn and the hammer. The garland of corn symbolised the farmers and the hammer symbolised the labourers, because the GDR was a land, which was governed by the labourers and farmers (according to the official propaganda) Later the compass was supplemented, which symbolised intelligence and fine industry.
After the reunification, the old West German arms were continued.
German pfennig
The pfennig was the currency of Germany before the introduction of the Euro. It has been circulated from the 9th century to the introduction of the Euro in 2002, when it ceased to be legal tender. The name Pfennig was derived from the British penny .
In the 9th century, Charlemagne declared that 240 Pfennigs should be minted from a pound of silver. A single coin thus contained 1.5 to 2 grams of silver. Until the 13th century, the pfennig was made from real silver, and thus of high value. From the 12th century on, the King was no longer able to enforce the regalia to mint coins, so many towns and local lords made their own coins, mostly using less valuable metals and less metal per coin, so different Pfennigs had different values. Some renowned coins are the Häller Pfennig, some centuries later called Heller and minted throughout the country, and the Kreuzer (from 'Kreuz', the cross minted on the coins). In the late 17th century the Pfennigs had lost most of their value. The last Pfennig coins containing traces of silver are rarities minted in 1805.
one pfennig,1991
Weight: 2gm
Metal: copper plated steel
Diameter: 16.5mm
Obverse: five oak leaves, date below, 'bundesrepublic deustchland' meaning the federal republic of Germany
Reverse: denomination
5 pfennig, 1986
Weight: 3gm
Diameter: 18.5mm
Metal: brass plated steel
Obverse: five oak leaves, date below, 'bundesrepublic deustchland' meaning the federal republic of Germany
Reverse: denomination
10 pfennig, 1985
Weight: 4gm
Metal: brass plated steel
Diameter: 21.6mm
Obverse: five oak leaves, date below, 'bundesrepublic deustchland' meaning the federal republic of Germany
Reverse: denomination
The significance of the oak leaves: The oak tree is the national tree, a symbol of Germany. Thick woodland is the sort of image that Germany has had for many centuries, with about one-third of the country still being forested. German history is full of lores related to the woods, starting with the German tribal chieftain Hermann, also known as Arminius to the Romans, defeated the invading German legions in the murky forests of Teutoburg. Just as we have a stereotype of a sandy place for the word "Arabia", similarly the Romans had a stereotype of a marshy forest for the word "Germany" for a very long time in history. Even in modern times, there are the romantics and the fairy tales of the Grimm brothers in the 19th century. The tree even finds its way into idioms and epithets like the proud German saying "firm as a German oak".
But of late, the great German oaks have been threatened by the menace of pollution. The danger to oaks is greater as compared to most other trees as oaks have a long lifespan of about 1000 years; so they tend to accumulate more poison due to pollution over the long years of their lifespan. The number of trees having damaged crowns(upper section including branches and leaves) has gone upto a record 51% due to pollution as well as parasites and other environmental conditions.
Euro: Germany cents
Germany 1 cent, 2004
Weight: 2.27gm
Metal: copper plated steel
Diameter: 16.3mm
Edge: plain
Reverse: globe and denomination
Obverse: Oak branch
Germany 2 cent, 2008
Metal: copper plated steel
Diameter: 16.3mm
Edge: plain
Reverse: globe and denomination
Obverse: Oak branch
Germany 2 cent, 2008
Weight: 3gm
Metal: copper plated steel
Diameter: 16.7mm
Edge: grooved
Obverse: globe and denomination
Reverse: Oak branch
5 cent, 2007
Weight: 3.86 gm
Metal: copper plated steel
Diameter: 21.2mm
Edge: plain
The significance of the oak leaves: The oak tree is the national tree, a symbol of Germany. Thick woodland is the sort of image that Germany has had for many centuries, with about one-third of the country still being forested. German history is full of lores related to the woods, starting with the German tribal chieftain Hermann, also known as Arminius to the Romans, defeated the invading German legions in the murky forests of Teutoburg. Just as we have a stereotype of a sandy place for the word "Arabia", similarly the Romans had a stereotype of a marshy forest for the word "Germany" for a very long time in history. Even in modern times, there are the romantics and the fairy tales of the Grimm brothers in the 19th century. The tree even finds its way into idioms and epithets like the proud German saying "firm as a German oak".
But of late, the great German oaks have been threatened by the menace of pollution. The danger to oaks is greater as compared to most other trees as oaks have a long lifespan of about 1000 years; so they tend to accumulate more poison due to pollution over the long years of their lifespan. The number of trees having damaged crowns(upper section including branches and leaves) has gone upto a record 51% due to pollution as well as parasites and other environmental conditions.
10 cent, 2003
Weight: 4gm
Metal: brass
Edge: grooved
Diameter: 19.7mm
Reverse: map of Europe and denomination
Obverse: Brandenburg gate
20 cent, 2008
Weight: 5.73gm
Metal: brass
Diameter: 22.2mm
Edge: notched
Reverse: Brandenburg gate
50 cent, 2002
The ten cent , twenty cent and the fifty cent coin has the Brandenburg gate on the obverse. The Brandenburg gate is the only remaining one of a series of gates through which one formally entered Berlin. To the North of the gate stands the Reichstag, the German parliament. The gate was commisioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia and was built in 1791.Posted By :Shubham Gupta
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