Germany 5 and 10 Pfennig (with or without Beads) (Fakes are possible) 1915 to 1922

Now look closely. Does your coin look exactly like the coin in the picture to the left? Some coins are slightly different, especially in the beads that go around the eagle. There are no beads on 5 pfennig coins, but 10 pfennigs come in both beaded and non-beaded types. Further, some of these coins were minted in iron, some in zinc, and some in copper-nickel. A magnet easily identifies coins made of iron. Weight is also a good indicator for 10 pfennig coins, but not for 5 pfennigs:

5 PFENNIG IRON: 2.5 grams
5 PFENNIG COPPER-NICKEL: 2.5 grams
10 PFENNIG IRON: 3.6 grams
10 PFENNIG ZINC: 3.2 grams
10 PFENNIG COPPER-NICKEL: 4.0 grams

We address coins without beads first, and then coins with beads. For each type, general values for common dates are listed, followed by better dates with catalog values for coins in average circulated condition. If you have a nice-looking specimen with great eye appeal, it is best to look in coin catalogs for precise, date and mint mark values. The values below are very approximate.

5 PFENNIG WITHOUT BEADS (COMMON DATES)
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1
well preserved: $6
fully uncirculated: $70
coins dated after 1910 are worth about one-third these values, except as appear in the 'bettter date' list

5 PFENNIG WITHOUT BEADS (BETTER DATES)
1903G copper-nickel: $10 average circulated
1904G copper-nickel: $10
1909F copper-nickel: $15
1910J copper-nickel: $45
1913J copper-nickel: $15
1915D iron: $8
1916E iron: $8

10 PFENNIG WITHOUT BEADS (COMMON DATES)
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1
well preserved: $10
fully uncirculated: $100
coins dated after 1910 are worth about one-third these values, except as appear in the 'bettter date' list
coins made of zinc between 1917 and 1922 are worth much less, divide these values by 8

10 PFENNIG WITHOUT BEADS (BETTER DATES)
1901G: $15 average circulated
1901J: $15
1902J: $10
1904G: $10
1904J: $8
1909F: $12
1909G: $10
1909J: $15
1915G: $90

10 PFENNIG WITH BEADS (COMMON DATES)
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1
well preserved: $4
fully uncirculated: $25

10 PFENNIG WITH BEADS (BETTER DATES):
1915A iron: $100 average circulated
1916 iron (no mint mark): $200
1917 zinc (no mint mark): $200
1918D iron: $1000
1922 iron (no mint mark): $130
1922E iron: $30
1922G iron: $30

Mint marks show under the eagle's tail. Use the Terminology page to understand what 'catalog value' means.

But we have to address an important nuance with the 1916 iron beaded 10 pfennigs. This coin is often counterfeited. 1916 iron coins with A, D, E, F, G, and J mint marks are very common and worth only small amounts, as described above. But the 1916 beaded iron pfennig with no mint mark is rare. So what happens when you find this coin without a mint mark?

Look at the side by side pictures above. The coin on the left has an obvious A mint mark (really two As). The coin on the right has, well, something. Maybe it is a mint mark, maybe it is not. The coin is coated with black goo and it is difficult to tell for sure. And yet, both coins are dated 1916 and the one on the right is being sold on eBay for a bargain basement price of only $250 US dollars. Wow! What a great price for a super-rare coin. Would you buy it? I think not.

For cases like this, there are professional authentication services which specialize in determining whether or not a coin is genuine. Look up PCGS, NGC, ICG, and ANACS on the Internet. Do not use other services.
cqLastNotify