Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 1/28/2008

Question
Im asking you this as i know you have answered a similar question before. I have a German 1950 50 pfennig coin, with what appears to be a G under the 50, with the writing bundesrepublik deutschland. Please could you tell me if this is a rare one. Thanks X

Answer
Claire, according to my world catalog of coins, there were two kinds of German 1950G 50 pfennig pieces.  One was the normal piece with reeded lettering that says "Bundesrepublik Deuschland" on the reverse.  That is a fairly common piece with no real value above face (50 pfennig is worth in the range of 25 cents or so).  However, a unauthorized version using genuine 1949 dies with the prior name of the "country": Bank Deutscher Lander (the a of Lander has an umlaut over it, two dots) on the other side is a pretty scarce piece, worth several hundred dollars if not more.  

There is a picture of the expensive piece now for sale on eBay at a buy it now price of 295 euro (350 dollars or more at current exchange).  But keep in mind this is an offering price and right now no one has paid it.  Here's the site:

http://cgi.ebay.de/50-Pfennig-1950G-BDL-selten_W0QQitemZ190140169132QQihZ009QQca...

Jim Lawniczak