Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2019, KM# 2559, France, 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
  • 2 Euro 2019, KM# 2559, France, 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
  • 2 Euro 2019, KM# 2559, France, 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, Coincard
Description

The Berlin Wall was a barrier that divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany), starting on 13 August 1961, the Wall completely cut off (by land) West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin until government officials opened it in November 1989. Its demolition officially began on 13 June 1990 and was completed in 1992. The barrier included guard towers placed along large concrete walls, which circumscribed a wide area (later known as the "death strip") that contained anti-vehicle trenches, "fakir beds" and other defenses.

The Berlin Wall was officially referred to as the "Anti-Fascist Protective Wall" by GDR authorities, implying that the NATO countries and West Germany in particular were considered equal to "fascists" by GDR propaganda. The West Berlin city government sometimes referred to it as the "Wall of Shame"—a term coined by mayor Willy Brandt—while condemning the Wall's restriction on freedom of movement.

Obverse

Depicts three pigeons flying over celebrating crowd, the Berlin War is behind with written inscription in German and French "30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall". The Brandenburg Gate on top, date below surrounded by the mint and mint's director's marks. Engraver's privy mark on the hand.

The Brandenburg Gate is an 18th-century neoclassical monument in Berlin, and one of the best-known landmarks of Germany. It is built on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel.

The 12 stars of the European Union on the ring, which also depicts, within intersecting lines the issue year and three marks:

• Mintmark of the Paris Mint: cornucopia
• Trademark of the mint director Yves Sampo: pentagon
• Mark of the engraver Joaquin Jimenez: two nested squares superimposed on a rhinoceros head

30 ANS DE
LA CHUTE DU
MUR DE BERLIN
30 JAHRE
MAUERFALL
RF
2019

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

The sequence "2 ★ ★" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted

2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★

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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Paris Mint (A)

Related coins

30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm