A look back in time

The right to mint

Bild1 In the early days of payment with coins it was the King’s prerogative to manufacture these coins. This right was later handed on to Electors and other Imperial Estates. Today the state has the sole right to mint. Only the Deutsche Bundesbank is allowed to issue coins as required.

The mint marks

After the foundation of the German Reich in 1871 the state was granted the prerogative of coinage. According to a decision by the Federal Assembly of December 7, 1871, letters were allocated to the individual mints for identification purposes. The letters were arranged according to the Federal States’ order of priority back then. Today, coins are still minted at five mint locations in Germany:

  • A Berlin (Kingdom of Prussia)
  • D Munich (Kingdom of Bavaria)
  • F Stuttgart (Kingdom of Württemberg)
  • G Karlsruhe (Grand Duchy of Baden)
  • J Hamburg (Hanseatic City of Hamburg)

The origins of the Stuttgart mint

StuttgartThe Stuttgart mint has a history of more than 600 years of coinage minting. As early as 1374 German Emperor Karl IV. granted Count Eberhard II. of Württemberg the right to mint coins. This was the origin of the Stuttgart mint. It remained in place until 1967 before moving to its present facilities at Stuttgart Bad Cannstatt.

The first coins minted in Stuttgart were Hellers, Schillings, Pennies and Guilders followed by Ducats. The luxurious coins and medals of the Late Baroque period were an early highlight of the Stuttgart art of coinage. Back then coins had the main purpose of representation and serving the ruler’s financial operations.

The origins of the Karlsruhe mint

KarlsruheThe Karlsruhe mint, which today is a listed building, has been operating successfully for more than 180 years. Since its opening in 1827 it has continuously served as a mint facility. It is located at the heart of Karlsruhe in a beautiful classical building designed by Friedrich Weinbrenner.

One of the first coins produced in the Karlsruhe mint were the 5 Guilders coins made of finest Rhine Gold with a portrait of Grand Duke Ludwig.