1 Mark Silver Coin Germany German Empire (Mintage: 500 | gold-plated)
- Imperial Eagle: with the Imperial Crown
- Oak Leaf Wreath: finely detailed
- Fine Silver: Fineness 900/1,000
- Imperial EagleThe Imperial Eagle bears the Imperial Shield on its chest
- Oak Leaf WreathLeaves and acorns are struck razor-sharp
- Fine SilverEach coin contains exactly 5 grams of fine silver
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Original from the German Empire · partly gilded
What a mark had to bear
1 mark, silver, partly gilded, obverse
Value, year, imperial eagle and a letter for the mint: all of this was laid down by law. An original from the German Empire, partly gilded later: the gilding was added to the coin afterwards.
What the law prescribes
Value, year, eagle and a letter
For the mark and the smaller coins, the coinage act of 1873 laid down what they bear:
“bear on one side the statement of value, the year and the inscription ‘Deutsches Reich’, on the other side the imperial eagle and the mint mark”
The coins from 1 mark down to 1 pfennig were the same throughout the Reich.
DeutschesThe word DEUTSCHES, on the left in the arc
ValueThe value in the oak wreath
YearThe year of striking
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 J. 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
- Face value
- 1 mark
- Metal
- Silver, partly gilded
- Fineness
- 900/1,000
- Gross weight
- 5.56 g
- Fine weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 24 mm
- Packaging
- Coin capsule
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.
1 Mark Silver Coin German Empire – Gold-Plated Rarity with a Mintage of Only 500 Pieces
- Strictly limited: Limited worldwide to a mintage of only 500 pieces
- Value appreciation potential: Enormous growth potential due to the strict limitation and rising collector demand
- Rarity: An extremely rare collector's coin that should not be missing from any discerning collection
- Design: Iconic oak leaf wreath with denomination on the reverse, as well as the majestic imperial eagle with imperial crown on the obverse – partially gold-plated in a warm golden tone
- Manufacturer: Mints of Germany
- Country of origin: Germany
There are coins that one buys. And there are coins that one owns – with pride, with passion, with the knowledge of holding something truly special in one's hands. The 1 Mark silver coin from the German Empire in the gold-plated special edition undoubtedly belongs to the second category. As a collector's coin, it combines German coinage history, fine silver with a fineness of 900/1,000, and a magnificent partial gold plating into a complete numismatic work of art.
A Piece of the Empire – To Touch and Admire
The value side of this historic silver coin shows the classic design that has made collectors' hearts beat faster for over a century: The large digit "1" is enthroned above the lettering "MARK", framed by an elaborately designed oak leaf wreath. Two symmetrically arranged oak branches – with intricately detailed leaves and acorns – are held together at the bottom by an elegant bow. Above it sits a delicate rosette. Along the upper edge of the coin runs the inscription "DEUTSCHES REICH" in raised capital letters, while the year is embossed at the lower edge. A fine beaded circle surrounds the entire design, and the outer edge features the typical reeding.
The eagle side is no less impressive. The majestic imperial eagle with widely spread wings, crowned by the imperial crown with fluttering ribbons, dominates the coin's design. On its chest it bears the imperial shield – a symbol of imperial power and German unity. The intricate ornamentation beneath the eagle and the razor-sharp minting bear witness to the highest craftsmanship.
The Gold Plating: When Silver Meets Gold
What makes this edition so special? The partial gold plating gives the already historically significant 1 Mark coin a warm, rich golden tone that truly makes the fine details of the oak leaf wreath and the imperial eagle shine. The interplay of 5 grams of fine silver and the noble gold layer creates a visual contrast that is simply fascinating. You have to see this coin to understand why collectors around the world are searching for it.
Only 500 Pieces – A Number That Changes Everything
Let this number sink in: Only 500 pieces of this gold-plated special edition were refined worldwide. This is no mass-produced item. This is no standard issue. This is a true rarity, aimed at discerning collectors who know the difference between "rare" and "nearly unattainable".
Whoever can call a coin with such a low mintage their own does not simply own a piece of precious metal – they own a piece of contemporary history in a form shared by only a few hundred people in the world.
It is precisely this strict limitation that makes the value appreciation potential of this edition so interesting. Experience shows: the lower the mintage, the more coveted a coin becomes over the years. And with only 500 pieces worldwide, demand is likely to significantly exceed supply before long.
Technical Details at a Glance
- Precious metal: Silver, partially gold-plated
- Fineness: 900/1,000
- Fine weight: 5 grams
- Diameter: 24.00 mm
- Face value: 1 Mark
- Year of minting: Various
- Packaging: High-quality coin capsule
- Condition: Circulated (bank-standard)
- Mintage: 500 pieces worldwide
Who Is This Coin Made For?
Quite clearly: for the discerning collector. Anyone who is passionate about German coinage history, who appreciates the aesthetics of the German Empire, and who understands that a limited collector's coin is more than the sum of its material value will take great delight in this gold-plated 1 Mark. The coin is delivered in a protective coin capsule that shields the piece from external influences and allows for stylish presentation.
Silver has a thousands-of-years-old tradition as a coinage metal. Various cultures used it as a medium of trade, as a symbol of wealth and prestige. And even today, it still holds true: profits from the sale of silver are generally tax-free, provided the holding period is at least one year. An advantage not to be underestimated for forward-thinking collectors and investors alike.
Coins of the German Empire: Why They Fascinate Collectors So Much
The coins of the German Empire (1871–1918) are among the most popular collecting areas in German numismatics. They tell the story of an era of upheaval, industrialization, and national self-confidence. The 1 Mark coin, with its iconic oak leaf wreath and the imperial eagle, is one of the most well-known designs of all. In the gold-plated special edition, this classic design takes on an entirely new dimension – a tribute to the past, refined for the present.
Anyone interested in inflation hedging or crisis protection will find numerous other options in our range. This gold-plated 1 Mark, however, is primarily aimed at the passionate collector – someone who knows that some opportunities do not come again. With 500 pieces worldwide, every single piece is a small treasure. Secure yours before it's too late.
Product depiction may differ from the final product.
