The federal states of the German Empire were allowed to issue their own silver coins in denominations of 2 and 5 marks from 1873. The Coinage Act of 9 July 1873 regulated how the coins were to be designed: On the obverse, or image side, only the state sovereign or the coat of arms of the free cities of Hamburg, Bremen or Lübeck was to be depicted, and the coin had to have a pearl circle. On the reverse, or denomination side, only the Imperial Eagle to a certain design was allowed. In addition, further silver coins were issued in denominations of 20 pfennigs, 50 pfennigs and 1 Mark. However, these were not stamped with a portrait of a ruler, since they were not issued by individual states.Jaeger & Kahnt (2009)

The new silver Mark coins were not intended to constitute the monetary standard; under the imperial coinage laws, they served as subsidiary currency within the gold standard. Their introduction was accompanied by the withdrawal and melting down of most of the older silver currencies issued by the German states. Plans to sell the recovered silver were abandoned in 1879 after its market price had fallen. The Vereinstaler was an exception: it remained legal tender at a value of three marks until 1907.

In 1908, 3-mark coins were minted for the first time; the same provisions applied as for the 2- and 5-mark coins.

The provisions of 1873 were relaxed by the Coinage Act of 1 June 1909; other motifs could now also be depicted on commemorative coins, and the pearl circle was no longer mandatory; the value side was also allowed to have a different design.

Some coins were produced in very high numbers, such as the circulation and commemorative coins of the Kingdom of Prussia. In smaller territories with correspondingly small populations, far fewer coins—especially commemorative coins—were produced. Due to the First World War, only 100 examples of the Saxon 3 Mark commemorative coin marking the 400th anniversary were minted in 1917, and issues commemorating state anniversaries in Hesse (1917) and Bavaria (1918) were only minted in low numbers.

The coins were valid throughout the Empire, so that coins from Baden could also be used in Prussia, for example.

Mints The silver coins of the Empire were minted at nine different mints: Mint symbol Place Period A Berlin from 1872 B Hanover 1872–1878 C Frankfurt 1872–1879 D Munich from 1872 E Dresden 1872–1887 Muldenhütten 1887–1953 F Stuttgart from 1872 G Karlsruhe from 1872 H Darmstadt 1872–1882 J Hamburg from 1875

Denominations up to 1 Mark The smaller silver coins of the German Empire were issued from 1873 at nominal values of 20 Pfennig and 1 Mark. 50 Pfennig coins were struck by the mints from 1875. As early as 1877, the 20-pfennig silver coins were replaced by cupro-nickel coins. From 1891, the design changed slightly, as it also did on the higher denominations: the Imperial Eagle now depicted a small coat of arms instead of the larger coat of arms used up to that point. After 1903 no more coins with the nominal value 50 Pfennig were struck; instead these coins bore the nominal value of ½ Mark.

Denominations Obverse Reverse Minting period Weight Diameterof the coin Edgedesign 20 Pfennig 1873–1877 1.111 g 16.0 mm 110 notches 50 Pfennig 1875–1877 2.778 g 20.0 mm 126 notches 50 Pfennig 1877–1878 2.778 g 20.0 mm 126 notches 50 Pfennig 189618981900–1903 2.778 g 20.0 mm 126 notches ½ Mark 1905–1919 2.778 g 20.0 mm 90 notches 1 Mark 1873–18831885–1887 5.556 g 24.0 mm 140 notches 1 Mark 1891–189418961898–1916 5.556 g 24.0 mm 140 notches

They were produced in all the mints, although several did not produce all the denominations in every year.

These coins, like the 2-, 3-, and 5-mark pieces, were made from 900/1000 silver.

Denominations from 2 Mark Size and weight All coins were made of 900/1000 silver.

The 2 Mark coins are 11.111 grams in weight and have a diameter of 28 mm.

The 3 Mark coins are 16.667 grams in weight and have a diameter of 33 mm.

The 5 Mark coins are 27.778 grams in weight and have a diameter of 38 mm.

In general, a Mark represented 5 grams of silver. A 5 Mark silver coin thus contained 25 g of silver; by contrast there were also 5 Mark gold coins with a content of 1.79 g of gold.

Gold coins of 10 and 20 Mark were subject to a legal minimum weight (Passiergewicht, §§ 1, 3, and 9. Section 9 established the statutory pass weight (Passirgewicht) at five thousandths below the normal weight and provided that gold coins falling below this limit and accepted by public authorities, banks, and credit institutions were not to be reissued; coins reduced in weight through prolonged circulation and wear were withdrawn for melting at the expense of the Reich.), below which they were withdrawn from circulation.

Reverse side images The Imperial Eagle is depicted on the reverse of the silver coins. There are two variants: the eagle with a large coat of arms ("little eagle") and the eagle with a small coat of arms ("big eagle"). The former was used until 1889, the latter from 1891. No silver coins were minted in between those dates.

The inscription reads:

GERMAN EMPIRE --year-- --Value--

Exceptions The 1909 coinage allowed the value side to be changed as well: On the reverse of the coins "Centenary of the Grand Duchy 1915" (Mecklenburg-Schwerin) and "Centenary of the accession of the County of Mansfeld" (Prussia) another form of imperial eagle can be seen, the so-called "war eagle". The Prussian 3 Mark coins "Centenary of the University of Berlin" and "Centenary of the University of Breslau" also bear other forms of imperial eagle. A variation of the imperial eagle (Art Nouveau eagle) is embossed on the reverse of the "Centenary of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach" coin. The reverse of the coin "Centenary of the Wars of Liberation against France" features an eagle clutching a snake (a symbol of Napoleonic foreign rule).

Edge The edge of the 2 Mark coin is milled with 140 notches, while the edges of the 3 and 5 Mark coins are stamped with the inscription GOTT MIT UNS ("God with Us"). Between the words are two arabesques with an iron cross between them.

List The following is a table of the silver coins issued by the German Empire.

Legend:

Face Value: The face value of a coin is the denomination stated on the coin and at which the coin was most often issued.

Year of Issue: The year of issue is the year in which a particular coin was minted and issued.

Circulation/commemorative coin: A circulation coin is one without a specified reason for issue. It depicts only the portrait of the prince or the coat of arms of the city. In addition, it is usually issued over several years. A commemorative coin is one issued for a specific occasion, such as a state anniversary or the ruler's birthday. These coins were each only produced in one year. However, like the circulation coins, they were official means of payment.

Occasion/Motif: The occasion of a commemorative coin or the motif of a circulation coin is given here.

Mint: The mint that produced the coins is listed here (see above); in most cases, the coins were produced by only one mint.

Minted condition: MS: These coins were minted in the normal way. However, the majority are no longer in "mint uncirculated" condition, as they have worn out over time. PF: These coins were minted in a special way, separately from the others. They were minted from polished planchets using specially polished dies. This causes the bumps on the coin to appear dull while the surface is reflective. These coins are usually more expensive than the normal minted coins, as they were also minted in smaller numbers in most cases. If the word available is in the "PF" column, it means that the number of PF coins is not known.

Duchy of Anhalt Capital: Dessau; area: 2,299 km2 Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coinOccasion/motif Locationof mint Number minted MS PF 2 Mark 1876 Circulation coinFrederick I A 200,000 – 2 Mark 1896 Commemorative coin25th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I A 50,000  available 5 Mark 1896 Commemorative coin25th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I A 10,000 available 2 Mark 1904 Commemorative coinInauguration of the reign of Frederick II A 50,000 150 3 Mark 19091911 Circulation coinFrederick II A 100,000100,000 100 3 Mark 1914 Commemorative coinSilver wedding of Frederick II and Marie A 200,000 1,000 5 Mark 1914 Commemorative coinSilver wedding of Frederick II and Marie A 30,000 1,000Grand Duchy of Baden Capital: Karlsruhe; area: 15,069 km2 Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coinOccasion/motif Locationof mint Number minted MS PF 2 Mark 18761877188018831888 Circulation coinFrederick I G 1,739,038763,92774,00045,49375,279 available 5 Mark 1874–18761888 Circulation coinFrederick I G 786,99430,111 available 2 Mark 1892189418961898–1902 Circulation coinFrederick I G 106,750106,750213,5201,093,412 available 5 Mark 18911893–18951898–1902 Circulation coinFrederick I G 42,700177,033491,605 available 2 Mark 1902 Commemorative coin50th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I G 375,018 – 5 Mark 1902 Commemorative coin50th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I G 50,024 – 2 Mark 1902–1907 Circulation coinFrederick I G 3,444,401 available 5 Mark 1902–19041907 Circulation coinFrederick I G 805,119243,821 available 2 Mark 1906 Commemorative coinGolden wedding of Frederick I and Louise G 350,000 – 5 Mark 1906 Commemorative coinGolden wedding of Frederick I and Louise G 60,000 – 2 Mark 1907 Commemorative coinDeath of Frederick I G 350,002 available 5 Mark 1907 Commemorative coinDeath of Frederick I G 60,000 available 2 Mark 19111913 Circulation coinFrederick II G 77,000289,690 available 3 Mark 1908–1915 Circulation coinFrederick II G 3,464,251 available 5 Mark 19081913 Circulation coinFrederick II G 281,568244,000 availableKingdom of Bavaria Capital: Munich; area: 75,865 km2 Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coinOccasion/motif Locationof mint Number minted MS PF 2 Mark 1876187718801883 Circulation coinLouis II D 5,370,1391,511,500168,974104,217 available 5 Mark 1874–1876 Circulation coinLouis II D 1,871,266 available 2 Mark 1888 Circulation coinOtto D 172,368 – 5 Mark 1888 Circulation coinOtto D 68,947 – 2 Mark 1891189318961898–19081912–1913 Circulation coinOtto D 246,050246,050492,13112,733,516311,350 available 5 Mark 18911893–18961898–19081913 Circulation coinOtto D 98,420407,7414,420,268420,000 available 3 Mark 1908–1913 Circulation coinOtto D 6,592,442 available 2 Mark 1911 Commemorative coin90th birthday and 25th anniversary of the reign of Prince Regent Luitpold D 640,000 available 3 Mark 1911 Commemorative coin90th birthday and 25th anniversary of the reign ofPrince Regent Luitpold D 639,721 available 5 Mark 1911 Commemorative coin90th birthday and 25th anniversary of the reign ofPrince Regent Luitpold D 160,000 available 2 Mark 1914 Circulation coinLouis III D 573,533 available 3 Mark 1914 Circulation coinLouis III D 717,460 available 5 Mark 1914 Circulation coinLouis III D 142,400 available 3 Mark 1918 Commemorative coinGolden wedding of Louis III and Maria Theresa D 130 5Duchy of Brunswick Capital: Brunswick; area: 3,672 km2 Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coinOccasion/motif Locationof mint Number minted MS PF 3 Mark 1915 Commemorative coinInauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus; Marriage to Victoria Louise (without Lüneburg in the title) A few ca. 1,700 5 Mark 1915 Commemorative coinInauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus; Marriage to Victoria Louise (without Lüneburg in the title) A few ca. 1,400 3 Mark 1915 Commemorative coinInauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus; Marriage to Victoria Louise A 31,634 – 5 Mark 1915 Commemorative coinInauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus; Marriage to Victoria Louise A 8,600 availableFree Hanseatic City of Bremen