Germany’s Berlin Wall Coin Wins Best Circulating Coin at 2021 COTY
The German Mint’s 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall took home the best Circulating Coin Award at the 2021 Coin of the Year Awards. The coin, dated 2019, commemorates the opening of the Berlin Wall, which took place on November 9, 1989.
As described by the German Mint, the fall of the Wall paved the way for the reunification of Germany in freedom and democracy. “Symbolically, it brought an end not only to Germany’s division but also to that of Europe and the wider world, making it a historical event of global significance,” the mint stated.
The national side (obverse) of the coin bears the same design as the €2 commemorative coin issued by France to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Wall. It was created by Joaquin Jimenez, an engraver at the French mint (Monnaie de Paris).
The German design differs slightly from that of the French coin in terms of the country code, the national mint and engraver marks, and the text included as part of the collage. Instead of bearing the words “30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall” in French and German as the French coin does, Germany’s issue features only the German, reading “30 Jahre Mauerfall.”
The 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall features a collage of different images related to the coin’s subject matter. It 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, one of the best-known landmarks of Germany, is shown on top
The European side (reverse) corresponds to the common reverse side of the regular issue €2 coin in circulation since 2007, which depicts a map of Europe without national borders. The technical parameters of the €2 commemorative coin are the same as those of any regular issue €2 coin.
The bi-metallic coin has a face value of 2 Euro. As on standard German €2 coins, the edge of the commemorative issue bears the inscription “EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT” (unity, justice and freedom) and a stylized federal eagle. Approximately 30 million coins were minted for circulation.