San Marino · 25th anniversary of German Unity

Issue date29 Sept 2015

Total mintage102,400

EU maximum100,000

Editions2

Edge lettering2 ★ × 6, alternately upright/inverted

InscriptionR / ES / 25o ANNIVERSARIO DELLA RIUNIFICAZIONE DELLA GERMANIA 1990-2015 / San Marino MMXV

DesignerErik Spiekermann

mintInstituto Poligrafico e Zecca Dello Stato, Roma

Issue occasion

The coin commemorates the 25th anniversary of German reunification. The motif shows the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), located in East Berlin (Ost-Berlin) during the Cold War, in two representations that resemble interlocked hands and symbolize the reunification of the two parts of Berlin. Running around it is the Italian inscription “25o ANNIVERSARIO DELLA RIUNIFICAZIONE DELLA GERMANIA 1990-2015”.

The design

The coin design depicts the Brandenburger Tor, which was located in Ost-Berlin during the Cold War, in two representations resembling two hands intertwined and symbolizing the reunification of the two parts of Berlin. On the left appear the mint mark “R” and the artist’s initials “ES” (Erik Spiekermann). The inscriptions “25o ANNIVERSARIO DELLA RIUNIFICAZIONE DELLA GERMANIA 1990-2015” (25th anniversary of German reunification) and the issuing state and year of issue (“San Marino MMXV”) can be read in a circle around the design.

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 four occupation zones. In 1949, these gave rise to the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) in the west and the German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische Republik, DDR) in the east. Berlin was also divided into four sectors, although the city lay entirely within the Soviet occupation zone. With the construction of the Berlin Wall in August 1961, the DDR sealed off West Berlin. The inner-German border and the Wall became visible symbols of the political division of Europe during the Cold War.

In 1989, the DDR leadership came under increasing pressure. Many citizens left the country via other Eastern Bloc states; at the same time, demonstrators demanded freedom of movement, free elections and political reforms. The opening of the Berlin border crossings on 9 November 1989 accelerated the political upheaval. Following the first free Volkskammer election in March 1990, the two German states negotiated state unity. In parallel, the Federal Republic, the DDR, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States regulated foreign-policy matters in the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (Zwei-plus-Vier-Vertrag). These included Germany’s borders, its alliance affiliations and the termination of the rights of the four former occupying powers. On 3 October 1990, the DDR acceded to the Federal Republic.

The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) had been a Berlin landmark long before the division of Germany. It was built towards the end of the 18th century according to plans by Carl Gotthard Langhans. The Quadriga on the gate was created by Johann Gottfried Schadow. During the division, the structure stood directly beside the restricted area of the Wall and was not freely accessible to the population. In December 1989, a border crossing was reopened there. This gave the gate a close connection with the end of the division.

San Marino is permitted to issue its own euro coins under a monetary agreement with the European Union. German unity was a suitable theme because it represented not only a national event, but was also connected with the end of the Cold War and the overcoming of the political division of Europe.