Silver Commemorative Set Wilhelm I. First German Emperor
- True Witnesses of History: around 150 years old
- Royal Design: Wilhelm and Augusta
- Certificate of Authenticity: in an elegant case
- True Witnesses of HistoryOriginal thalers that once actually circulated
- Royal DesignDouble portrait of the royal couple and Prussian eagle
- Certificate of AuthenticityEvery coin's authenticity documented in writing
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Originals from Prussia · Wilhelm I
Thalers that commemorate
Under the law of 1871, large silver coins could for the time being only be struck as commemorative coins. The case holds three thalers with the portrait of Wilhelm I, among them a Victory Thaler.
On the thalers
What the thalers bear
The thalers bear no mark; they come from the time before. They still show what they stand for:
One bears a double portrait with WILHELM KOENIG · AUGUSTA KOENIGIN V. PREUSSEN. Another shows Wilhelm I with the A, and on the reverse EIN VEREINSTHALER and 1871.
Before the mark
By law: a sixth of a thaler as half a mark
Before the mark, the thaler counted in the north and the gulden of 60 kreuzer in the south.
“counting the ⅓ thaler piece as one mark and the 1/6 thaler piece as half a mark”
In other words: a third of a thaler counts as one mark, a sixth of a thaler as half a mark.
So the old pieces were accepted until they were withdrawn from circulation. The single thaler remained valid until 1907.
The mint mark
A letter for the mint
The thalers also bear a letter for their mint, on the photo of the thaler with the portrait a A.
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
A mark holds 5 grams of fine silver, 900/1,000, and measures 24 millimetres. No one had to accept silver coins for amounts over 20 marks.
Commemorative coins
When a coin marks an event
Under the law of 1871 the striking of large silver coins was suspended, with one exception:
“No striking … of large silver coins, with the exception of commemorative coins, shall take place until further notice.”
This power expired on 31 December 1873. The Victory Thaler of 1871 from Prussia is a commemorative coin for the victory over France in 1871: it shows the head of Wilhelm I with WILHELM KOENIG VON PREUSSEN, and on the other side a seated crowned woman with sword and shield and SIEGES THALER.
The coinage act of 1909 empowered the Federal Council to have five-, three- and two-mark pieces made as commemorative coins in a different design.
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
- Set of originals
- Era
- German Empire
- Ruler
- Wilhelm I
- Metal
- Silver
- Fineness
- 900/1,000
- Gross weight
- 55.56 g
- Number of pieces
- 3 pieces
- Contents
- three thalers with the portrait of Wilhelm I, among them a Vereinsthaler of 1871 and a Victory Thaler
- Packaging
- Case
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.
Silver Commemorative Set Wilhelm I. – First German Emperor in Historical Coins
With the Silver Commemorative Set "Wilhelm I. – First German Emperor", you hold a piece of Prussian and German history in your hands. United in a high-quality case, these historical silver coins tell the story of the rise of a man who went from King of Prussia to the first Emperor of a united German Reich. Each piece is a genuine witness to history – around 150 years old and once actually in circulation. History you can touch, struck in real precious metal.
From King of Prussia to German Emperor
Wilhelm I. ascended the Prussian throne in 1861, having succeeded his brother Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Ten years later, on 18 January 1871, he was proclaimed German Emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles – marking the beginning of the German Empire. His reign coincides with the era of the founding of the Reich, the victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War, and the introduction of the unified Mark as the imperial currency. Those who own these coins literally hold the turning points of German history in their hands.
What Makes This Commemorative Set So Special
The set brings together three historical silver coins from the era of Wilhelm I. As these are original circulated pieces from Prussia, years of issue and mints may vary – which is precisely what makes each individual set a unique collector's item. The collection is delivered in a decorative case along with a certificate of authenticity documenting the authenticity of each individual silver coin.
Precious metal: Silver
Quantity: 3 coins in the set
Total gross weight: 55.56 g
Condition: standard circulated (used)
Packaging: case with certificate of authenticity
Country of origin: Germany
Designs Full of History
Among the iconic coins of this era is the Coronation Thaler of 1861 – the only thaler of Wilhelm I. featuring a double portrait: it depicts the King together with his consort Augusta. On the reverse, the Prussian eagle is displayed with the famous motto "SUUM CUIQUE" – "To Each His Own". Wilhelm placed the crown on his own head on 18 October 1861 in the Palace Church in Königsberg and subsequently crowned his wife Queen. Equally significant is the Victory Thaler of 1871, struck to commemorate the victory in the war against France – the very year in which Wilhelm became German Emperor. Also included is the classic Vereinsthaler bearing the portrait "Wilhelm König von Preussen" and the crowned eagle. Such thalers were traditionally minted from 900 fineness silver and are among the most sought-after collector's items in numismatics.
Silver as a Store of Value with Tradition
Silver has accompanied humanity for thousands of years as a coinage metal, medium of exchange, and symbol of wealth and prestige. It possesses an intrinsic value derived from its physical properties and robust industrial demand – for example in electronics, solar technology, and medical technology. Added to this are the limited availability, high liquidity, and durability of the metal, which preserves its properties over centuries. Those who invest in silver coins appreciate this combination of tangible asset value and collector's enjoyment.
Tangible asset: physical precious metal with intrinsic value, independent of trust in fiat money
Diversification: silver can exhibit a lower correlation to other asset classes
Generational value: suitable for passing on wealth over the long term
Tax aspect: gains from the sale of silver are generally tax-free, provided the holding period is at least one year
As historical originals, these coins combine the appeal of numismatics with the character of a tangible asset. This makes the commemorative set suitable as an inflation hedge as well as a crisis protection measure – and at the same time as a collectible homage to the founding of the Reich and the German Empire.
A commemorative set that makes history tangible: from King of Prussia to the first German Emperor – preserved in real silver.
Who This Commemorative Set Is Suited For
The set appeals to collectors of historical thalers as well as enthusiasts of German history and newcomers seeking precious metals with narrative added value. Compared to pure bullion coins, these originals stand out for their authenticity and historical background; compared to individual thalers, the commemorative set offers a curated collection in a distinguished case. A thoughtful gift and a jewel for any collection.
Product depiction may differ from the final product.
