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Coin and banknote collection

Pictures archive

The items in the collection are gradually being made available in digital format in the online archive. Owing to the frequent requests we receive for high-resolution images of German payment media from 1948 up to the end of the D-Mark era, it seemed to us to be only logical to offer this material first. Should these images be published we request that you state “Deutsche Bundesbank, Frankfurt” as the official location. The use of these images is free of charge.

As digital processing is a very time-consuming and labour-intensive process, we are unable to make any firm statements on the future progress of this project.

D-Mark / GDR Mark

Note: To save an image, right click on the appropriate link and select “Save as ...” or “Save target as ...” depending on your browser version.

Since D-Mark banknotes of all series are no longer legal tender, the restrictions imposed by section 128 of the Act on Breaches of Administrative Regulations (Gesetz über Ordnungswidrigkeiten - OWiG), the provisions in criminal law concerning the protection of monetary tokens pursuant to section 146 et seq of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch - StGB) as well as any regulations derived from them in respect of the size, resolution, identification requirement or similar for the reproduction of such banknotes are no longer applicable; under criminal and administrative law, they are therefore generally freely reproducible. As there is still a considerable return flow of D-Mark banknotes to us and owing to the observable fact that they continue to be accepted in some business transactions, we would nevertheless be grateful if the D-Mark banknotes reproductions prepared by you were to differ from the original D-Mark banknotes so that

the dimensions are somewhat larger or smaller than those of the original banknotes
no security features (watermark, security thread, ultraviolet image, any foil element) are imitated
the paper quality used is different in thickness and feel
the image and print resolution is poorer than that of genuine banknotes
any possibility of being mistaken for genuine banknotes is further reduced by means of other modifications/variations
if possible, no double-sided reproductions are produced.

Specimen euro banknotes may be viewed on the website of the European Central Bank.

Questions and answers on exchanging historic banknotes may be found under the section on cash.

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