Small treasures may be hidden in any wallet. You just need to recognize them. Even a coin from the North Germany can be worth a fortune.
Small treasures in your wallet: Valuable coins from Bremen and Hamburg
People handle coins almost every day, but few take a close look at them. Loose change in the wallet can be a nuisance, especially in the age of payment cards, losing significance over time. However, paying close attention can be worthwhile, as demonstrated by the example of minting errors on 2-euro coins featuring the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie emblem.
But it’s not just the Hamburg variant that can fetch a high price; special coins from Bremen can also significantly increase the owner’s bank account. A glance at the eBay classifieds shows that selected pieces are traded for several thousand euros. One example is even listed for nearly 100,000 euros.
Monometallic version for nearly 100,000 euros
According to the seller on eBay, this is a 2010 2-euro coin featuring Bremen’s City Hall and Roland. The special aspect: it is claimed to be a monometallic version, meaning the coin consists of only one type of metal. Standard 2-euro coins, regardless of special designs, are made with a nickel-brass alloy (inner part) and a copper-nickel alloy (outer part), according to the European Commission’s website.
The seller claims that “no other example” of this supposedly unique coin has been found, hence the high price of €99,000.
According to the Bundesbank, a total of 30 million Bremen coins were issued. Among these, there are often so-called minting errors. Some coins have a shifted inner ring that extends into the outer ring.
Other coins feature so-called die rotations, where the design is essentially upside down. Additionally, some coins may have off-center stamps. This is referred to as off-centering by experts. Double strikes and double punches are also possible.
A trained eye is worth it
Depending on rarity and demand, such coins can fetch between several hundred and 2,500 euros. Numerous dealers currently list such prices, as seen in eBay classifieds.
Whether the coins ultimately achieve such high values should be assessed by experts. Just because high sums are asked does not necessarily mean the coins are worth that much, according to MDM Münzhandelsgesellschaft from Braunschweig. A trained eye is beneficial before making purchases that might turn out to be a disappointment.
