Germany, Democratic Republic (DDR) 5 Mark 1989

History

5 Mark 1989, KM# 129, Germany, Democratic Republic (DDR), 500th Anniversary of Birth of Thomas Müntzer, Katharinenkirche in Zwickau

Obverse. Photo © Historia Hamburg

Description

Thomas Müntzer (1489–1525) was a German preacher and radical theologian of the early Reformation whose opposition to both Luther and the Roman Catholic Church led to his open defiance of late-feudal authority in central Germany. Müntzer was foremost amongst those reformers who took issue with Luther’s compromises with feudal authority. He became a leader of the German peasant and plebeian uprising of 1525 commonly known as the German Peasants' War. He was captured after the battle of Frankenhausen, and was tortured and executed.

Obverse	Coat of arms German Democratic Republic Device and tools (watch, compass, telescope etc.) Hammer, Compass (drawing tool) Depicts a national emblem of the German Democratic Republic (DDR), surrounded by the country name (above), denomination and date (below). Mintmark of the Berlin State Mint (A) is between country name and the emblem. The national emblem of the German Democratic Republic featured a hammer and a compass (drawing tool), surrounded by a ring of rye. The hammer represented the workers in the factories. The compass represented the intelligentsia, and the ring of rye the farmers. DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK A 1989 5 MARK
Reverse	Temple (church, mosque, synagogue, pagoda etc.) Church Depicts St. Catharine's church in Zwickau. The late Gothic church of St. Catharine (German: Katharinenkirche) has an altar piece ascribed to Lucas Cranach the elder, and is remembered because Thomas Müntzer was once pastor there (1520–22). The town hall was begun in 1404 and rebuilt many times since. KATHA- RINEN- KIRCHE ZWICKAU
Edge	Inscribed (lettered) THOMAS MÜNTZER 1489 - 1525