Coin Pièce Germany (Federal Rep.) 10 deutsche mark Silver 1987 J Hambourg

This 10 Deutsche Mark coin was issued by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1987 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the city of Berlin. Struck at the Hamburg mint, identifiable by the mintmark J, it is part of the series of German silver commemorative coins of that period.

The coin is composed of silver with a fineness of 625 thousandths, which corresponds to a common alloy used for German commemorative coins of the era. It has a weight of 15.5 grams and a diameter of 32.5 millimetres, standardised dimensions for this type of issue.

The obverse of the coin traditionally features the German federal eagle, symbol of the Federal Republic, accompanied by the face value of 10 Deutsche Mark and the inscription Bundesrepublik Deutschland. The reverse is dedicated to the Berlin theme, depicting iconic elements related to the history and identity of the city, in reference to its 750 years of existence. The date 1987 also appears on the coin, recalling the year of this commemoration.

The total mintage of this issue amounts to 8,000,000 specimens, making it a relatively accessible coin for collectors. This significant mintage volume reflects the German commemorative monetary policy of the 1980s, which aimed to widely distribute these coins among the general public and numismatists.

This issue is set within a particular historical context, as Berlin was then a divided city, and the celebrations of its 750th anniversary were organised simultaneously on both sides of the Wall, by both West Germany and East Germany, each striking its own commemorative coins for the occasion.