Coin Set of the GDR (1948-1990)

GDR Coin Set (1948–1990) – Six Originals from Four Decades of German History

Four decades of German division, captured in six circulation coins: This GDR coin set brings together the typical denominations that millions of people between the Baltic Sea and the Ore Mountains held in their hands day after day. From the small 1 Pfennig to the 1 Mark – each piece a genuine fragment of everyday life from the German Democratic Republic. The set is delivered in an attractively designed blister card titled "Die Mark der DDR – Zeugen der deutschen Teilung" (The Mark of the GDR – Witnesses of German Division), which fully protects the set while making it ready for display.

What's Included in the Coin Set?

The set comprises 6 coins in the classic denominations of GDR circulation coinage. Together they form a complete picture of the small change of that era:

• 1 Pfennig – aluminium, the famous lightweight of the series

• 5 Pfennig – aluminium

• 10 Pfennig – aluminium

• 20 Pfennig – brass, noticeably heavier and gold-coloured

• 50 Pfennig – aluminium

• 1 Mark – aluminium alloy

On the value side, oak leaves and the characteristic cogwheel frame the large denomination numeral, while the other side bears the GDR state coat of arms featuring hammer, compass and wreath of grain. The mint mark "A" refers to the mint in Berlin, the country's most important minting facility. The total raw weight of the complete set is approximately 13.15 grams – an indication of just how featherlight these circulation coins truly were.

"Alu-Chips" with History

Because the smaller denominations were made of lightweight aluminium, they quickly acquired the popular nickname "Alu-Chips" (aluminium chips). The exception is the 20-Pfennig piece in brass: heavier, gold-coloured, and once indispensable at telephone booths, cigarette vending machines and ticket machines. It is precisely this contrast that makes the set so appealing – six coins, two metals, an entire era. Anyone who picks up the pieces immediately feels the difference between the light Pfennig coins and the solid "Zwanziger" (twenty).

The GDR Mark – Witnesses of a Vanished Era

The GDR Mark was legal tender until the currency union on 1 July 1990; the small Pfennig denominations remained valid even beyond that date in some cases. With the end of the GDR, these coins disappeared from circulation – and overnight became tangible witnesses to a state that no longer exists. Over more than 40 years, the name and design of the currency changed several times; the denominations assembled here are exemplary of the last and best-known form of this currency.

For beginners, such a circulation coin set is an ideal starting point for collecting GDR coins: instead of laboriously tracking down individual years of issue, you receive six matching coins in a single unit. Those who already own individual GDR circulation coins will find this a compact, display-ready overview of the most important denominations.

For Collectors and History Enthusiasts

• Authentic originals – genuine circulation pieces, not restrikes or modern re-issues

• Complete in blister – six coins, protected and thematically presented

• Ideal gift – a tangible piece of German-German history, especially for people with a connection to the GDR era

• Solid entry point – a low barrier to entry into the collecting field of Germany post-1945

Please note: These are circulation pieces in varying grades of preservation. Each coin was genuinely in use and bears the corresponding traces of its history – which is precisely what makes them honest witnesses of their time. Unlike investment products in gold or silver, this set derives its appeal from historical and collector interest, not from precious metal content.

Gold is humanity's oldest currency and has outlasted all others – yet historical circulation coins such as the GDR Mark also preserve a piece of memory and tell history you can hold in your hands.

Secure this compact GDR coin set and add six original witnesses from 40 years of German division to your collection.