Deutsch
English
Français
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
Português
Slovenčina
Hrvatski
Slovenščina
Lietuvių
Eesti
Български
CC 186 2015
Coin set
BU
BU Mint Set
Germany · 25 years of German Unity
Mintage175,100
Issue price€13.35
Issue date30 Jan 2015
PackagingCoin set
Edge letteringEINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT + Federal Eagle
Price of the set (2 coins)€49.00
Mintage information from source: 39800 | 33825
Varieties
5Germany, A · A · Mint mark A · BU · Coin set · Mintage 39,800
Germany, D · D · Mint mark D · BU · Coin set · Mintage 33,825
Germany, F · F · Mint mark F · BU · Coin set · Mintage 33,825
Germany, G · G · Mint mark G · BU · Coin set · Mintage 33,825
Germany, J · J · Mint mark J · BU · Coin set · Mintage 33,825
Issue occasion
The coin commemorates 25 years of German unity. The design depicts a cheering crowd as a symbol of a new beginning and departure, with the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) in the background as a symbol of German unity. The repeated exclamation “We are one people” represents the common will of the citizens and the path to German reunification.
The design
In the foreground, the coin depicts a jubilant crowd symbolizing a new beginning and the departure toward a better future; in the background, the Brandenburger Tor, the symbol of German unity, can be seen. The repeated exclamation “We are one people” — a collective expression of the will of German citizens — symbolizes the path to German reunification. The inner part of the coin also shows the mark of the respective mint (“A”, “D”, “F”, “G” or “J”), the mark of the issuing country (“D”) and the engraver’s initials (“BW” — Bernd Wendhut).
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.
Background on the topic
After the Second World War, Germany was divided into occupation zones. In 1949, two states emerged from them: the Bundesrepublik Deutschland in the west and the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) in the east. The two belonged to different political and military alliance systems. From 1961 onward, the Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer), together with the DDR’s border installations, made escape to the West more difficult and separated families, circles of friends and economic ties.
In 1989, the DDR leadership came under increasing pressure. Many people left the country via other Eastern Bloc states; at the same time, demonstrators called for political freedom, free elections and freedom of movement. A peaceful protest movement developed, originating in part from the Leipzig Monday demonstrations (Leipziger Montagsdemonstrationen). Its slogan, “We are the people” (“Wir sind das Volk”), was initially directed against the state leadership’s claim to speak for the population. As calls for state reunification grew, the slogan partly changed to “We are one people” (“Wir sind ein Volk”).
The opening of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 accelerated political developments. In the first free Volkskammer election in March 1990, those forces seeking rapid reunification won a majority. This was followed by the currency, economic and social union, as well as negotiations between the two German states. At the same time, the Bundesrepublik Deutschland, the DDR and the four former occupying powers regulated foreign policy matters in the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (Zwei-plus-Vier-Vertrag), including Germany’s borders and full state sovereignty.
On 3 October 1990, the DDR acceded to the Bundesrepublik Deutschland. The re-established eastern German Länder became part of the federal territory; at the same time, Berlin once again became a common city and later the seat of the Bundestag and the Federal Government (Bundesregierung). Since then, 3 October has been the statutory Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit).
In 2015, the 25th anniversary provided an occasion to remember not only the political union but also the peaceful revolution and the role of the population in bringing the rule of the SED to an end. The coin thus places the anniversary in a civic and, at the same time, European context.
In 1989, the DDR leadership came under increasing pressure. Many people left the country via other Eastern Bloc states; at the same time, demonstrators called for political freedom, free elections and freedom of movement. A peaceful protest movement developed, originating in part from the Leipzig Monday demonstrations (Leipziger Montagsdemonstrationen). Its slogan, “We are the people” (“Wir sind das Volk”), was initially directed against the state leadership’s claim to speak for the population. As calls for state reunification grew, the slogan partly changed to “We are one people” (“Wir sind ein Volk”).
The opening of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 accelerated political developments. In the first free Volkskammer election in March 1990, those forces seeking rapid reunification won a majority. This was followed by the currency, economic and social union, as well as negotiations between the two German states. At the same time, the Bundesrepublik Deutschland, the DDR and the four former occupying powers regulated foreign policy matters in the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (Zwei-plus-Vier-Vertrag), including Germany’s borders and full state sovereignty.
On 3 October 1990, the DDR acceded to the Bundesrepublik Deutschland. The re-established eastern German Länder became part of the federal territory; at the same time, Berlin once again became a common city and later the seat of the Bundestag and the Federal Government (Bundesregierung). Since then, 3 October has been the statutory Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit).
In 2015, the 25th anniversary provided an occasion to remember not only the political union but also the peaceful revolution and the role of the population in bringing the rule of the SED to an end. The coin thus places the anniversary in a civic and, at the same time, European context.