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SHIPPING AVAILABLE > A Whitman Album featuring GERMANY 10 PFENNIG coins staring from 1875 ~ A total of -50- circulated coins are included, as shown ~ Note, the album is not designed for German coins, and has been repurposed for this use, perhaps not holding all coins securely in the openings.
The German Pfennig, including the 10 pfennig coin, has a long and rich history in Germany, dating back over a thousand years. In its earliest days, during the 9th century, the pfennig was a silver coin and the most valuable denomination. Over time, smaller denominations were made by dividing pfennigs, a practice that led to the creation of "hacksilver." As the centuries passed, the pfennig's value gradually declined due to debasement and inflation.
In the late medieval and early modern period, spanning the 16th to 18th centuries, different states within the Holy Roman Empire minted their own pfennigs. These varied in design and silver content, and it was during this time that the 10 pfennig coin became more prevalent. With the unification of Germany in 1871, the currency was standardized, and a new 10 pfennig coin made of copper-nickel was introduced. This coin featured the German eagle on one side and the denomination on the other.
The value of the 10 pfennig coin suffered greatly during the tumultuous years of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. Rampant inflation led to the coin being made from less valuable metals like aluminum and zinc, and the Nazi regime introduced new designs incorporating their symbols.
Post-war Germany saw both East and West Germany issue their own 10 pfennig coins, each with unique designs reflecting their political differences. West Germany's coins initially used aluminum-bronze, later transitioning to copper-plated steel. Upon reunification in 1990, a new 10 pfennig coin was created, featuring the iconic Brandenburg Gate on one side. This coin circulated until 2002, when Germany adopted the euro.
Today, the pfennig, including the 10 pfennig coin, is no longer legal tender in Germany, having been replaced by the euro cent. Nonetheless, these coins hold historical and numismatic significance, serving as tangible reminders of Germany's complex and fascinating past.
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