2018-11-29 Thu

The Berlin Wall was built by the German Democratic Republic on the night of 13th August 1961 to restrict people from East Berlin to cross over to the west. Several people lost their lives while trying to get on the other side of this 3.6 meter-high wall which divided Germany for 28 long years. 302 watchtowers and warning devices, 14,000 guards, 600 dogs and sky-high barbed wires were installed to ensure that nobody from East Berlin escapes to the other side.

Gradually, the Soviet Union started losing its power and East Germany’s revolt gained momentum. On 9th November 1989, the wall was demolished and people from both sides of Germany reunited. The Berlin Wall is today called as the “wall of shame” which created an inhumane political divide in society during Cold War.

Paris Mint is going to release a series of special coins to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall in 2019 just before the Berlin Money Fair. A silver Proof 10€ coin, a gold Proof 5€ coin, a gold Proof 50€ coin and a gold Proof 200€ coin will be released on 1st February 2019.

Designed by Mint artist Joaquin Jimenez, the coin’s obverse features Brandenburg Gate crowned by the quadriga of the Greek goddess of Victory, a soldier holding a rose walking through the wall, “Berlin” written in Grafitti style on the wall. Other texts include “30 Jahre Mauerfall” which translates to “30 years of the Fallen Wall”. The series will also include a shaped coin with an optical illusion.

The reverse side features the text “30 ans de la Chute du Mur de Berlin 1989-2019” in grafitti style. Other inscriptions include the denomination 200 euros, “RF” for Republique Francaise, the mintmark – cornucopia, mark of mint master Yves Sampo–a pentagon with letters AG, MP and YS. The mintage limit of this 31.104 g .999 Gold coin is only 500 pieces.

Image Courtesy: Monnaie de Paris