The German government has decided to mint a €2 commemorative coin marking the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The coin will be issued as of 10 October 2019. 

The coin commemorates the opening of the Berlin Wall, which took place 30 years ago on 9 November 2019. The fall of the Wall paved the way for the reunification of Germany in freedom and democracy. Symbolically, it brought an end not only to Germany’s division but also to that of Europe and the wider world, making it a historical event of global significance.

The national side (picture side) of the coin bears the same design as the €2 commemorative coin being issued by France to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Wall. It was created by an engraver at the French mint (Monnaie de Paris) and consists of a collage of different images related to the coin’s subject matter. The German design differs slightly from that of the French coin in terms of the country code, the national mint and engraver marks, and the text included as part of the collage. Instead of bearing the words “30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall” in French and German as the French coin does, Germany’s issue features only the German, reading “30 Jahre Mauerfall”.

The European side corresponds to the common reverse side of the regular issue €2 coin in circulation since 2007, which depicts a map of Europe without national borders. The technical parameters of the €2 commemorative coin are the same as those of any regular issue €2 coin.

As on standard German €2 coins, the edge of the commemorative issue bears the inscription “EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT” (unity, justice and freedom) and a stylised federal eagle. 

Some 30 million coins are to be minted for circulation.

The coin will be valid as legal tender throughout the euro area.