Germany 1 Mark (Fakes are possible) 1873 to 1915

Some of these old German marks can be valuable, but they must be un-damaged and in decent condition. The coin in the picture is a little dirty, but dirt and wear are different than stains, cleanings, scratches, and gouges. Coin collectors figure that dirt and wear cannot be avoided, but damage can.

NEVER CLEAN A COIN. CLEANING RUINS VALUE.

In worn condition, these old marks from the German Empire are only worth a few dollars, but they get more valuable with less wear, especially for older dates. They are made of 0.161 troy ounces of silver, so they can never be worth less than their silver value. To look up the value of silver, go to kitco.com. The value changes every day.

GENERAL VALUES 1 MARK BEFORE 1888:
worn: $5 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $10
well preserved: $50
fully uncirculated: $140

GENERAL VALUES 1 MARK 1888 TO 1900:
worn: $4 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $8
well preserved: $40
fully uncirculated: $120

GENERAL VALUES 1 MARK AFTER 1900:
worn: $3 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $6
well preserved: $30
fully uncirculated: $100

In addition to these general rules, here are some better dates and mint marks. The approximate catalog values provided below, after the date and mint mark, are for coins in average circulated condition. Mint marks appear in duplicate under the eagle. If you have a very nice looking coin, regardless of date and mint mark, check it out with a knowledgeable collector or professional coin dealer. It may be worth more than we indicate here.

1873C: $125
1877B: $250
1878C, 1878E: $30
1879A: $90
1880E, 1880F: $30
1880G, 1880H: $70
1881G, 1881H, 1882G: $30
1882H: $100
1882J: $30
1883D: $50
1883E: $100
1883F: $80
1883G: $150
1883J: $80
1886G: $50
1891D: $1100
1892E: $30
1892G: $90
1894G: $70
1896G: $30
1898A: $40
1902G: $30
1905F: $10000
1906J: $30
1909E: $200
1909J: $280
1911D: $50
1912J: $40
1913F: $30
1913G: $70
1913J: $30
1916F: $50

The best coin in the bunch is an 1905F which catalogs for $1000s of US dollars. Beware of counterfeits. Check the weight. Genuine coins weigh 5.55 grams.

The dollar figures above are catalog values. See our Terminology page for a detailed description of what 'catalog' means.
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