How to Identify the German 5 Reichsmark Garrison Church Commemorative
Spot a 1934 Garrison Church 5 Reichsmark by its spread-winged eagle, 'Deutsches Reich' legend, crown-sized .900 silver, mint marks, and Potsdam church reverse.
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Read the obverse first. The face shown carries a Reichsadler with wings spread, DEUTSCHES REICH arched above, the date split 19 34, and 5 REICHSMARK below. This eagle-and-legend combination confirms you are holding a mid-1930s German 5 Reichsmark rather than a Weimar or later German piece.
Confirm the reverse if you can see it. The type is named for the Potsdam Garrison Church, so the church tower on the reverse is the decisive confirmation of the Garrison Church commemorative. Note that this design exists in more than one variety, including versions with and without an added commemorative date, which affects catalog identification and value.
Check size and metal. This is a crown-sized coin, about 29 mm across and roughly 13.9 g, struck in .900 silver with a lettered edge. A genuine piece is non-magnetic and rings with a clear silver tone; a lightweight, magnetic, or dull coin points to a replica or plated copy.
Find the mint mark. Small letters in the lower obverse field identify the striking mint. German coinage of this era used several mint letters, and reading yours narrows the coin to a specific issue and helps gauge scarcity. Verify the letter under magnification, as it is easy to misread on worn or cleaned coins.
Authenticate carefully. Weigh and measure against the crown-size standard, inspect the lettered edge, and compare the eagle feathering, legend, and lettering with reference images. Mushy detail, wrong weight, a plain or seamed edge, or magnetic response are warning signs. Restrikes, tooled fields, and modern fakes exist, so for anything valuable seek third-party grading or a specialist opinion before buying or selling.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell this from a Weimar-era 5 Reichsmark?
Both are crown-sized silver, so read the designs and legend. The Garrison Church type pairs the spread-winged 'Deutsches Reich' eagle obverse with a Potsdam church reverse dated 1934; earlier Weimar 5 Mark coins use different reverse designs and dates.
What are the quickest authenticity checks?
Confirm the diameter near 29 mm and weight near 13.9 g, check that the coin is non-magnetic and has a lettered (not plain) edge, and make sure the eagle detail and lettering are sharp rather than soft, which suggests a cast copy.
Does the mint mark change the value?
It can. The coin was struck at several mints and in more than one variety; some mint-mark and variety combinations are scarcer than others, so identifying the letter is worth doing before valuing the coin.
The reverse is not visible in my photo — can I still identify it?
The eagle, 'Deutsches Reich' legend, split 1934 date, and 5 Reichsmark value confirm the Reichsmark type from the obverse alone, but you should turn the coin over and check for the Potsdam church to confirm the Garrison Church design and its specific variety.