3 Mark Silver Coin Prussia Wilhelm II Germany Imperial Era (various years of issue)
- Genuine Witness to History: over 100 years old
- Imperial Eagle: with imperial crown
- 15 g Fine Silver: 900 Reich silver
- Genuine Witness to HistoryOnce real everyday money, minted from 1908 to 1912
- Imperial EagleFinely struck with sceptre, orb and Iron Cross
- 15 g Fine SilverTangible material value in every single coin
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Original from the German Empire · Wilhelm II
What a mark had to bear
3 marks Prussia, Wilhelm II, obverse
Value, year, imperial eagle and a letter for the mint: all of this was laid down by law. A piece of 3 marks weighs 16.67 g, of which 15 g is fine silver.
What the law prescribes
Value, year, eagle and a letter
One side of the three-mark piece bears the portrait of the sovereign, on the photo Wilhelm II with the legend WILHELM II DEUTSCHER KAISER KÖNIG V. PREUSSEN.
The other side bears DEUTSCHES REICH, the year, the imperial eagle and the value, DREI MARK.
LegendThe legend above the portrait
ReichThe word REICH above the eagle
ValueThe value, DREI MARK, below the eagle
Before the mark
By law: a sixth of a thaler, half a mark
The coinage act of 1873 had silver coins of German stamp worth a sixth of a thaler accepted as half a mark, and those worth a third of a thaler as one mark.
The mint mark
A letter tells where it was struck
The mark and the smaller coins also bear a mint mark: a letter that names the mint. A stands for Berlin, J for Hamburg, F for Stuttgart.
“Below, the mint mark J for Hamburg.”
The photo of this piece shows a A. As it comes from different years, your piece may bear another letter.
The gold of the mark
The gold of the German Empire
Twenty and ten marks in gold, 900/1,000: a twenty-mark piece weighs 7.96 grams, of which 7.17 grams is fine gold.
The mark in silver
The silver mark in the hand
For silver coins, the coinage act of 1873 prescribed pieces of five, two and one mark, and of fifty and twenty pfennig. One pound of fine silver was to yield 100 one-mark pieces, so a mark holds 5 grams of fine silver.
“No one is obliged to accept imperial silver coins in amounts of more than twenty marks …”
Meaning: no one had to accept silver coins for amounts over 20 marks.
In the law the half mark is called the fifty-pfennig piece: 400 pieces from one kilogram of fine silver, so 2.5 grams of silver per piece.
The three-mark piece exists since a law of 1908. It took the place of the Vereinsthaler, prohibited since 1907, and holds 15 grams of fine silver.
Rentenmark and Reichsmark
The Reichsmark from 1924
The coinage act of 30 August 1924 introduced the Reichsmark; in October 1924 it came into circulation alongside the Rentenmark, one to one.
Our strikes
What our strikes take up
Our strikes bear the lettering 1 Reichsmark or 1 Mark in an oak wreath. They are newly struck, no Reichsmark of the past and no legal tender of the Reich.
At a glance
- Type
- Original
- Era
- German Empire
- Ruler
- Wilhelm II
- Face value
- 3 marks
- Metal
- Silver
- Fineness
- 900/1,000
- Gross weight
- 16.67 g
- Fine weight
- 15 g
- Diameter
- 33 mm
Gross weight: the weight of the whole coin. Fine weight: the pure metal in it. Fineness: its share in thousandths.
Details from our product data, the coinage acts and the photo. The year and mint mark of your piece may differ from the photo.
Original and new strike
On the left a mark from the German Empire, on the right our strike of 1/200 ounce of fine gold, which takes up DEUTSCHES REICH and 1 MARK in an oak wreath.
One was money throughout the Reich, the other is newly struck: two pieces, one image.
3 Mark Silver Coin Prussia Wilhelm II – A Piece of the German Empire in Your Hands
There are coins you buy. And there are coins you own. The 3 Mark silver coin from the Kingdom of Prussia featuring the portrait of Emperor Wilhelm II undoubtedly belongs to the second category. Over 100 years old, struck in fine 900 Reichssilber and carried by a history that changed Europe forever – this piece is far more than just a coin. It is a witness to history.
Anyone who collects silver coins or invests in physical silver will find it hard to overlook this historic minting. Here, numismatic collector value and the intrinsic material value of 15 grams of fine silver combine into an exceptionally compelling overall package.
Emperor Wilhelm II – The Face of an Era
The obverse features the distinctive portrait of Wilhelm II in profile, facing right. The inscription reads "WILHELM II DEUTSCHER KAISER KÖNIG V. PREUSSEN", and at the lower edge the mint mark "A" for the Berlin mint is visible. The level of detail is remarkable: every strand of hair, the contours of the face, the characteristic moustache – all immortalised in silver with a precision that still impresses after more than a century.
Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. His reign coincided with a period of enormous economic growth, during which the German Empire rose to become a leading industrial nation. This coin was actual everyday currency at the time – real money that carried its value through its silver content. A concept that seems more relevant than ever in an age of fiat currencies and inflation.
The Majestic Imperial Eagle on the Reverse
Turn the coin over, and the heraldic Imperial Eagle of the German Empire spreads its mighty wings before you. Crowned with the Imperial Crown complete with cross and arches, bearing the Prussian eagle on its breast shield, sceptre and orb in its talons – this design radiates a majesty you can feel. Chains of orders and the Iron Cross further adorn the depiction. The inscription "DEUTSCHES REICH" with the respective year and "DREI MARK" at the lower edge frame the eagle, separated by five-pointed stars. A fine bead circle surrounds the entire coin design.
While paper money came and went, while currencies collapsed and empires fell – the silver of this coin has outlasted all of it. It is just as real and valuable today as it was on the day it was struck.
Technical Specifications at a Glance
- Precious metal: Silver
- Fineness: 900/1,000 (Reichssilber)
- Fine weight: 15 g
- Gross weight: 16.67 g
- Diameter: 33.00 mm
- Face value: 3 Mark
- Minting period: 1908–1912
- Country of origin: Germany (Kingdom of Prussia)
- Catalogue number: Jaeger 103
Why This Coin Captivates Collectors and Investors Alike
The 3 Mark Wilhelm II is no ordinary investment silver. It combines several qualities that make it particularly attractive:
- Historic collector value: As an original coin from the German Empire over 100 years old, it possesses a numismatic value that can far exceed the pure silver price.
- Substantial silver content: With 15 grams of fine silver, each individual coin contains a tangible, intrinsic material value – independent of governments, central banks or political decisions.
- Limited availability: Although the total mintage was once considerable at over 22 million pieces, the course of history – two world wars, meltdowns, losses – has drastically reduced the number actually available.
- Tax advantage: Gains from the sale of silver are generally tax-free provided the holding period is at least one year – an aspect not to be underestimated for forward-thinking investors.
Silver: The Underestimated Crisis Hedge
Silver has a millennia-old history as a monetary metal. Countless cultures and civilisations used it as a medium of trade, as a symbol of wealth and as a reliable store of value. And today? Today silver is in greater demand than ever. Industrial demand – from electronics to solar technology to medical technology – is growing steadily. At the same time, supply remains limited. This combination of rising demand and limited availability speaks in favour of long-term value stability.
Compared to gold, silver is often considerably more affordable, making entry easier for private investors. Those looking to start with smaller amounts will find an ideal starting point in historic silver coins such as the 3 Mark Wilhelm II. And unlike modern bullion coins such as the Maple Leaf or the Vienna Philharmonic, here you also receive a tangible piece of history.
History You Can Touch
Imagine: this coin may once have rested in the pocket of a Berlin merchant. Perhaps it was passed across a counter at a market in Königsberg. Or it lay forgotten in a drawer for decades while the world outside changed fundamentally several times over. The Mark as a currency? Long gone. The Empire? Fallen. But the silver – the silver has remained.
That is precisely what makes physical precious metals so unique. They outlast systems, governments and crises. They do not rust, they do not decay, and they can be passed from generation to generation. As a long-term retirement provision, as a hedge against political and economic uncertainty, or simply as a fascinating collector's piece – this coin fulfils many roles simultaneously.
Whoever holds silver in their hands holds a value older than any currency in existence today. That is not a promise – that is history.
Who Is This Coin Suited For?
- Collectors of historic coins who wish to expand their collection with an authentic piece of Imperial German history
- Silver investors who value numismatic potential alongside material value
- History enthusiasts who want to own a tangible relic of the Wilhelmine era
- Newcomers to the world of precious metals who wish to begin with an affordable yet high-quality piece
- Discerning gift-givers looking for an exceptional and valuable present
The 3 Mark silver coin Prussia Wilhelm II is available in various years of issue between 1908 and 1912. Each piece tells its own story – and is simply waiting to become part of your collection or silver portfolio. Secure this fascinating piece of German coin history now at Kettner Edelmetalle.
Product depiction may differ from the final product.
