Updated 7/16/2000

1913   3 mark silver coin from Prussia. This coin celebrates the 25th year of reign of Wilhelm II, full name Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert (1859-1941), emperor of Germany and king of Prussia (1888-1918), whose policies helped bring about World War I (1914 -1918).He was the last Kaiser, forced to abdicate his throne on November 9, 1918, after workers and troops in the German empire revolted against the government's refusal to end World War I. The Weimar Republic followed, lasting from 1919 until 1933, when Nazi party leader Adolf Hitler suspended the constitution and assumed power. The reverse shows the Prussian Imperial Eagle. The words GOTT MIT UNS (God is with us) are inscribed inside the rim. The 3 mark silver coin origins can be traced back to the Joachimstaler (taler) from Bohemia in the 16th century, as a coin of 25.98 grams of silver. In the mid-17th century it was reduced to 23.38 grams where it was minted until 1908 when it was replaced by the 3 mark piece of 15 grams silver. The mark first appeared in the 12th century, but was not minted until the 16th century in Germany.In 1873 the mark became the official currency of the German Empire based on the system 1 mark = 100 pfennings.