The world of numismatics has a wide variety of specialist terms used to describe coins’ grades and minting procedures. Im For coins of the past struck before 1945 the spectrum of grades stretches from “good” to “uncirculated”.
The grades
Uncirculated
Uncirculated corresponds to the quality of a circulation coin at the time of minting. The lustre of the die is retained, but minor visible wear, for example, the damage that occurs when coins drop from the presses into containers for collection, can be made out by the naked eye.
Proof
Proof does not refer to a grade of preservation but to a particularly elaborate manufacturing process. To achieve that kind of finish, the blanks and dies are pre-treated in order to accentuate the difference between the shining fields and the matt relief as much as possible. Each coin is individually removed from the striking press and examined carefully prior to being packaged in a capsule.
Purchasing coins
Official Sales Agency
The State Mints of Baden-Wuerttemberg are first and foremost coin manufacturers, which is why you cannot buy or sell circulation or commemorative coins here. If you want to buy German collector’s coins, you should get in touch with local coin dealers or the Münze Deutschland, the Official Sales Agency for Collector’s Coins of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Selling coins
Coin dealers and associations
You can find German coin dealers on the websites of Germany’s two coin dealer associations: the “Berufsverband des Deutschen Münzfachhandels e. V.” and the “Verband der Deutschen Münzhändler e. V.” We also recommend that you locate a qualified coin dealer next to you via FENAP, the European dealer organisation.
Valuing coins
Experts
All the professional associations will advise you when it comes to valuing your collection. However, you can also get in touch with publicly appointed experts certified by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry. You can find their addresses in “CoinsWeekly”.
Polymer coins
Visible security
The State Mints of Baden-Wuerttemberg were leaders in the development of the polymer coin, which possesses a whole new level of security. Not only is the polymer ring a visible security feature for each user, with the addition of nano-pigments it can also serve as a covert security feature. Thus, for the first time, coins can be produced that are as difficult to forge as banknotes.
Technical Equipment
Coins for Germany and beyond The State Mints of Baden-Wuerttemberg is Germany’s largest mint, with a total of 80 employees at two sites. The two mints are owned by the regional government of Baden-Wuerttemberg and are responsible for striking 40% of Germany's euro coins. In Karlsruhe and Stuttgart state-of-the-art technology is used to produce euro [...]
Assistant Undersecretary Walter Leibold mints the first 5-euro collector coin “Subtropical Climate Zone”
On 8 December 2017, Assistant Undersecretary Walter Leibold has struck the very first 5-euro collector coin “Subtropical Climate Zone”. He thus set the wheels in motion for the production of the second issue of the “Climate Zones of the Earth” coin series. All coins in the series are equipped with a polymer ring between the […]