Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 9/13/2007

Question
I found a set of coins at a antique store. They are a four piece set, cufflinks, money clip, and tie pin. On the coins it says: Bundesrepublik Deutschland Pfennig. The year is 1950 there is a women planting a plant with 5 leaves on it. On the back there is a large 50.
I was wondering what they are and if they have any value even though they are now cufflinks and money clips.
Please get back to me.
Thank you.

Answer
Hello, Heather, following the second world war, the 3 western "zones" of Germany -- the English, U.S. and Frence, eventually formed together to make up the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany), in 1949.  So the 1950 pfennig (penny), was one of their first coins (one year after the very first).  Quite a few were made though, so that they really have no great collector value (your's is a 50 pfennig or 1/2 mark).  Only if the coin is mintmark "G" (under the "50") is it of particular value, as very few of those were struck.  The set probably has some value as used cufflinks and money clips.  With the coming of the Euro, the Mark was withdrawn from circulation, but the German Bundesbank has guaranteed old West German currency (I think even the coinage), thus as coins the pieces would only have value if taken to a German Bundesbank and converted at about 1:2 into Euro (i.e., your 4 would get you 2 Euro, a bit over $2.  Jim Lawniczak