Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2019, KM# 429, Germany, Federal Republic, 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
  • 2 Euro 2019, KM# 429, Germany, Federal Republic, 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Description

The German Mint joins the French coin project on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The German Mint takes up the drawing of the head of engraving at the Monnaie de Paris, Joachim Jimenez. The text on the left of the currency is simplified compared to the French version.

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 "30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall". The Brandenburg Gate on top, mintmark (A for Berlin, D for Munich, F for Stuttgart, G for Karlsruhe, J for Hamburg), date and national identifying mark (D for Deutschland / Germany) below.

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.

Engraver: Joaquin Jimenez

30
JAHRE
MAUERFALL
D 2019 D

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

UNITY AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOM in German, Germany's national motto and the beginning of Germany's national anthem, followed by the Federal Eagle

EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT

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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
Mints
Bavarian Central Mint (D)
Berlin State Mint (A)
Hamburg Mint (J)
Karlsruhe State Mint (G)
Stuttgart State Mint (F)

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30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm