Nazi countermarks on euro coins

[Bimat]

Outrage as two euro coin with Nazi swastika and SS symbols found in Germany

A TWO euro coin with banned Nazi symbols on has caused an outcry after being discovered at a restaurant in Neuss, Germany.

By LAURA MOWAT
PUBLISHED: 22:42, Mon, Jan 23, 2017 | UPDATED: 22:52, Mon, Jan 23, 2017

Restaurant employee, Marvin Schramm, found the coin as he was dividing the tips between his colleagues when he noticed an unusual two-euro coin.

On the front of the coin, there was an imperial eagle and a swastika.

On the back, in the middle of the federal eagle's chest, a double so-called runic insignia, the sign of Hitler's Secret Service, was engraved.

Mr Schramm said: "I was shocked, as were my colleagues and a few guests who were still present.

"Our guests are mixed, across the board, and we value tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

"What kind of idiot would do this? My colleagues and I just could not believe it."

Mr Schramm added: "Such crap can not get back into circulation.

"I can not say who paid for it, and the coin could already have been in circulation for a long time."

The distribution of such national socialist symbols is banned in Germany by Article 86a of the criminal code and people who do so could face jail for three years or a fine.

In June 2013, a two-euro coin with the same etched symbol was discovered in Dortmund.

The two euro coin was produced in 2002.

Source: The Express

[Bimat]

Tried finding image of the said coin but no success. Can someone please help? I guess this is the usual hoopla by the media for nothing...

Aditya

[chrisild]

Well, using the term "outrage" in this case is a little silly. But here is an article along with an image of one side:
http://www.wz.de/lokales/rhein-kreis-neuss/neuss/muenze-mit-nazi-symbolen-in-neusser-gasthaus-aufgetaucht-1.2360228

Another article, both sides:
http://www.rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/neuss/euro-muenze-mit-nazi-symbolen-entdeckt-aid-1.6550950

Christian

[malj1]

A countermark rather than a minted coin with the device. 

[Bimat]

A countermark rather than a minted coin with the device. 

Yes indeed, still very much of interest for collectors.

Aditya

[chrisild]

Is it? Well, any collector who is into such stuff can easily alter a piece this way. Frankly, there are issues or tendencies to be concerned about - not just in Germany but equally or even more so in some other countries. But this? Outrage? Meh.

Christian

[quaziright]

Considering this is an account of The Express, I can see why they would put "Outrage". Its not a very good tabloid and certainly not worth reading. Given that there are some 80M germans and god knows how many 2euro coins floating around, you'd think there'd be more of these kinds of defaced coins out there. Maybe those PEGIDA (Or was it LEGIDA) people might get a brain fart of an idea and decide to get on this bandwagon eventually

[FosseWay]

Is it? Well, any collector who is into such stuff can easily alter a piece this way. Frankly, there are issues or tendencies to be concerned about - not just in Germany but equally or even more so in some other countries. But this? Outrage? Meh.

Christian

Outrage is just tabloid speak. This kind of thing occurred in the UK (specifically Northern Ireland) during the Troubles, with e.g. IRA punched over the Queen's head.

Whether such things are collectible? I don't know. As you say, producing them to order is very easy. But on the other hand, the "advertising tokens" produced by English merchants who stamped PEARS' SOAP all over French 10-centime coins in the 19th century are collected, albeit at low cost. And I can imagine a demand for genuine (insofar as that can be determined) political statements on coins. What argues against that in this case is the choice of imagery. No-one seriously uses Nazi imagery to make a valid political statement - swastikas, SS runes and the like are plastered around purely to cause shock and offence.

[chrisild]

Here is another €2 coin, featuring the former Dutch queen Beatrix ... and a nazi eagle with a swastika.   According to this article (14 Aug, Dutch) it was found by a woman in Asten, roughly halfway between Venlo and Eindhoven.

Christian

[malj1]

I wonder where they got the stamp? it doesn't resemble the Nazi logo used on the coinage.

[chrisild]

Well, it is similar enough to be immediately recognized, but yes, different. So somebody must have made a "new" nazi eagle die, which probably means there is more than just this one defaced piece ...

Christian