Bavarian 2 mark coin

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2 mark
1914 coin obverse
General information
Country	German Empire Kingdom of Bavaria
Years	1876–1883 1888 1891–1914
Measurements and composition
Mass	11.111 g
Diameter	28 mm
Thickness	2 mm
Composition	silver
Appearance
Shape	round
Alignment	coin medallic
Obverse	Click to Ludwig II (1876-1883) Otto I (1888-1913) Luitpold (1911 commemorative) Ludwig III (1914)
Reverse	Reichsadler, state title, value, year
v · d · e

The 2 mark coin was first issued by the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1876, during the reign of King Ludwig II, and continued to be minted until 1883. Otto I's reign as King of Bavaria began in 1886, but a coin featuring his image was not issued until 1888. Production of this coin recommenced in 1892 and continued to be minted until 1913. The last general issue Bavarian 2 mark coin was minted in 1914, during the first full year of Ludwig III's reign.

One commemorative 2 mark coin was issued by the Kingdom of Bavaria. It marked the 90th birthday of Prince Regent Luitpold.

History

Coin of Ludwig II

Coin of Ludwig II.

The first Bavarian 2 mark coin was issued in 1876, during the reign of King Ludwig II. It was identical in composition, mass, and size to the other standard 2 mark coins issued in the states of the German Empire at the time, having been struck in .900 fine silver, weighing 11.111 grams, and measuring 28 millimeters in diameter and 2 millimeters in thickness. A right-facing effigy of Ludwig II was engraved in the center of the coin's obverse, partially encircled by a legend reading "LUDWIG II KŒNIG V. BAYERN". Directly underneath the likeness of the king was a "D" mint mark, indicating the coin was struck at the Bavarian Mint in Munich. The Reichsadler of the German Empire was featured on the reverse, accompanied by the state title of the Second Reich, the coin's value, and the year of minting. The 2 mark coin featuring Ludwig II was minted in 1876, 1877, 1880, and 1883. Between those years, a total of 7,154,830 examples of this coin were produced.

Coin of Otto

The coin of Otto.

Otto succeeded his brother, Ludwig II, as King of Bavaria on June 13, 1886, following the latter's alleged suicide. However, a coin featuring an image of the new king was not issued until two years later, in 1888. A left-facing portrait of Otto was engraved in the center of the coin's obverse, accompanied by a legend reading "OTTO KOENIG VON BAYERN" and a "D" mint mark. No Bavarian 2 mark coins were issued until three years later, in 1891. No changes were made to the coins between the years, excluding the design of the Reichsadler on the reverse. The heraldic German symbol had been present on all gold mark coins since the introduction of the currency in 1873, and from that date until 1890, the eagle bore a large shield on its breast. The design was changed in 1891, and the shield became smaller while the Reichsadler itself became larger. The "large shield" coin of Otto was only minted in 1888, while the "small shield" issues were minted during 1891, 1893, 1896, from 1898 to 1908, and then again from 1912 to 1913. Only 172,368 "large shield" examples were produced, compared to the 14,069,105 "small shield" minted.

1911 commemorative coin

1911 commemorative coin.

Prince Regent Luitpold, the uncle of Ludwig II and Otto and de facto ruler of Bavaria from 1886 to 1912, was born on March 12, 1821 in Würzburg to King Ludwig I and his wife, Therese. His 90th birthday was celebrated in 1911, and the Kingdom of Bavaria issued a 2 mark coin featuring his image to commemorate the event. The right-facing effigy was engraved in center of the obverse, encircled by a legend reading "LVITPOLD PRINZ–REGENT V. BAYERN" and another which read "1821 • 12 MÆRZ • 1911". The latter of the two inscriptions signified the date of his birth and his 90th birthday. Directly underneath the likeness of Luitpold was a "D" mint mark. No changes were made regarding the composition, mass, size, and reverse of the 2 mark coins of Otto. At least 640,000 examples of the 1911 commemorative coin were issued, with an unrecorded number being struck in proof quality.

Coin of Ludwig III

Prince Regent Luitpold's eldest son, Ludwig III, became King of Bavaria on November 5, 1913, following the deposition of Otto from the throne. However, a coin featuring his image was not issued until the first full year of his reign, 1914. A left-facing effigy of the new king was featured in the center of the coin's obverse, accompanied by a legend reading "LUDWIG III KOENIG VON BAYERN" and a "D" mint mark. Its composition, mass, size, and reverse were identical to those of the "small shield" issues of Otto while he reigned as King of Bavaria. At least 573,533 of these coins were minted, with an unrecorded number being struck in proof quality.

Karl Goetz pattern coins

A copper Karl Goetz coin.

German medalist Karl Goetz designed a series of 2 mark pattern coins in 1913 and submitted them to the Bavarian Mint. These proof coins were struck in bronze, copper, gold, nickel, platinum, and silver. The bronze, copper, and silver coins respectively weighed 9.03, 9.78, and 8.2 grams. A left-facing effigy of King Ludwig III was engraved in the center of the coin's obverse, encircled by a legend reading "LVDWIG • KÖNIG • VON • BAYERN". On the reverse, a crowned eagle perched atop a shield bearing the Reichsadler was depicted, accompanied by the state title of the Second Reich, the coin's "value" (inscribed as "2 MK"), and the year. Not many of these coins were made, and have an estimated price of anywhere from US$110 to $1650, depending on condition and composition.