East Germany 1971-A 5 mark

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This five mark was issued by the communist regime to honor Berlin as its capital and the Brandenburg Gate as its most famous monument. Ironically, the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961, blocking the Gate, symbolized the regime's futile attempt to block its citizens from leaving. When the wall came down in 1990, East and West Berliners celebrated at the Gate. THis type was issued again 1979-90.

Recorded mintage: 4,000,000.

Specification: 9.70 g, copper-nickel, 29 mm diameter, lettered edge.

Catalog reference: KM 29.

Source:

• Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

Link to:

• East Germany 1971 20 mark KM-32, Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
• East Germany 1972-A 5 mark KM-37, Meissen
• Coins and currency dated 1971