Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your German Gold Mark shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the German Gold Mark offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of German Gold Mark at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a German Gold Mark? Wrong! If the German Gold Mark is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about German Gold Mark then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling German Gold Mark? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about German Gold Mark and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your German Gold Mark wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your German Gold Mark then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the German Gold Mark site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about German Gold Mark, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your German Gold Mark, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{Infobox Currency| currency_name_in_local = Mark | image_1 = 1914-2-19-20.jpg| image_title_1 = German 20 mark banknote from 1914 ( www.GermanNotes.com)]| subunit_ratio_1 = 1/100| subunit_name_1 = Pfennig| issuing_authority_website =| obsolete_notice = Y-->

The Goldmark (officially just Mark) is the name used for the currency of the [German Empire from 1873 to 1914.

History Before unification, the different German states issued a variety of different currencies, though most were linked to the Vereinsthaler, a silver coin containing 16⅔ grams of pure silver. Although the Mark was based on gold rather than silver, a fixed exchange rate between the Vereinsthaler and the Mark of 3 Mark = 1 Vereinsthaler was used for the conversion. Southern Germany had used the South German gulden as the standard unit of account, which was worth of a Vereinsthaler and, hence, became worth 1.71 (1) Mark in the new currency. Bremen (state) had used a gold based Bremen thaler which was converted directly to the Mark at a rate of 1 gold Thaler = 3.32 (3) Mark. Hamburg had used its own Hamburg mark prior to 1873. This was replaced by the Goldmark at a rate of 1 Hamburg Mark = 1.2 Goldmark.

From January 1 1876 onwards, the Mark became the only legal tender. The name Goldmark was created later to distinguish it from the German papiermark (paper mark) which suffered a massive loss of value through hyperinflation following the First World War. The Goldmark was on a gold standard with 2790 Mark equal to 1 kilogram of pure gold.

Coins Coins of denominations between 1 Pfennig and 1 Mark were issued in standard designs for the whole Empire, whilst those above 1 Mark were issued by the individual states, using a standard design for the reverses (the Reichsadler, the eagle insignia of the German Empire) with a design specific to the state on the obverse, generally a portrait of the monarch, with the free cities of Bremen (state), Hamburg and Lübeck using their city insignia. Many of the smaller states issued coins in very small numbers and these are thus extremely rare and valuable. The principality of Lippe was the only state not to issue any gold coins in this period.

Base metal coins

• 1 Pfennig (Copper: 1873-1916, aluminium: 1916-1918)
• 2 Pfennig (Copper: 1873-1916)
• 5 Pfennig (Cupro-nickel: 1873-1915, iron: 1915-1922)
• 10 Pfennig (Cupro-nickel: 1873-1916, iron and zinc: 1915-1922)
• 20 Pfennig (Cupro-nickel, 1887-1892)
• 25 Pfennig (Nickel, 1909-1912)
• 50 Pfennig (Aluminium, 1919-1922)

Silver coins Silver coins were minted in .900 fineness to a standard of 5 grams silver per Mark. Production of 2 and 5 Mark coins ceased in 1915 while 1 Mark coins continued to be issued until 1916. A few 3 Mark coins was minted until 1918, and ½ Mark coins continued to be issued in silver until 1919.

• 20 Pfennig, 1.1111 g (1 g silver), only until 1878
• ½ Mark or 50 Pfennig, 2.7778 g (2.5 g silver)
• 1 Mark, 5.5555 g (5 g silver)
• 2 Mark, 11.1111 g (10 g silver)
• 3 Mark, 16.6667 g (15 g silver), from 1908 onwards
• 5 Mark, 27.7778 g (25 g silver)

The 3 Mark coin was introduced as a replacement for the Vereinsthaler coins of the previous currency, whose silver content was slightly more than that of the 3 Mark coin.

Gold coins Gold coins were minted in .900 fineness to a standard of 2790 Mark = 1 kilogram of gold. Gold coin production ceased in 1915.

• 5 Mark, 1.9912 g (1.7921 g gold)
• 10 Mark, 3.9825 g (3.5842 g gold)
• 20 Mark, 7.965 g (7.1685 g gold)

Banknotes Banknotes were issued by the Imperial Treasury (known as "Reichskassenschein") and the Reichsbank, as well as by the banks of some of the states. Imperial Treasury notes were issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 Mark, whilst Reichsbank notes were produced in denominations of 20, 50, 100 and 1000 Mark. The notes issued after 1914 are referred to as German papiermark.

References

External links {{Standard numismatics external links| world_coin_gallery_1_url = Germany| world_coin_gallery_1_name = Germany| banknote_world_1_url = germany1| banknote_world_1_name = Germany - 1865 to 1919| dollarization_1_url =| dollarization_1_name =| gfd_1_url = Germany| gfd_1_name = Germany| gfd_data_1_url =| gfd_data_1_name =| show_gfd_excel = Y-->

{{Infobox Currency| currency_name_in_local = Mark | image_1 = 1914-2-19-20.jpg| image_title_1 = German 20 mark banknote from 1914 ( www.GermanNotes.com)]| subunit_ratio_1 = 1/100| subunit_name_1 = Pfennig| issuing_authority_website =| obsolete_notice = Y-->

The Goldmark (officially just Mark) is the name used for the currency of the [German Empire from 1873 to 1914.

History Before unification, the different German states issued a variety of different currencies, though most were linked to the Vereinsthaler, a silver coin containing 16⅔ grams of pure silver. Although the Mark was based on gold rather than silver, a fixed exchange rate between the Vereinsthaler and the Mark of 3 Mark = 1 Vereinsthaler was used for the conversion. Southern Germany had used the South German gulden as the standard unit of account, which was worth of a Vereinsthaler and, hence, became worth 1.71 (1) Mark in the new currency. Bremen (state) had used a gold based Bremen thaler which was converted directly to the Mark at a rate of 1 gold Thaler = 3.32 (3) Mark. Hamburg had used its own Hamburg mark prior to 1873. This was replaced by the Goldmark at a rate of 1 Hamburg Mark = 1.2 Goldmark.

From January 1 1876 onwards, the Mark became the only legal tender. The name Goldmark was created later to distinguish it from the German papiermark (paper mark) which suffered a massive loss of value through hyperinflation following the First World War. The Goldmark was on a gold standard with 2790 Mark equal to 1 kilogram of pure gold.

Coins Coins of denominations between 1 Pfennig and 1 Mark were issued in standard designs for the whole Empire, whilst those above 1 Mark were issued by the individual states, using a standard design for the reverses (the Reichsadler, the eagle insignia of the German Empire) with a design specific to the state on the obverse, generally a portrait of the monarch, with the free cities of Bremen (state), Hamburg and Lübeck using their city insignia. Many of the smaller states issued coins in very small numbers and these are thus extremely rare and valuable. The principality of Lippe was the only state not to issue any gold coins in this period.

Base metal coins

• 1 Pfennig (Copper: 1873-1916, aluminium: 1916-1918)
• 2 Pfennig (Copper: 1873-1916)
• 5 Pfennig (Cupro-nickel: 1873-1915, iron: 1915-1922)
• 10 Pfennig (Cupro-nickel: 1873-1916, iron and zinc: 1915-1922)
• 20 Pfennig (Cupro-nickel, 1887-1892)
• 25 Pfennig (Nickel, 1909-1912)
• 50 Pfennig (Aluminium, 1919-1922)

Silver coins Silver coins were minted in .900 fineness to a standard of 5 grams silver per Mark. Production of 2 and 5 Mark coins ceased in 1915 while 1 Mark coins continued to be issued until 1916. A few 3 Mark coins was minted until 1918, and ½ Mark coins continued to be issued in silver until 1919.

• 20 Pfennig, 1.1111 g (1 g silver), only until 1878
• ½ Mark or 50 Pfennig, 2.7778 g (2.5 g silver)
• 1 Mark, 5.5555 g (5 g silver)
• 2 Mark, 11.1111 g (10 g silver)
• 3 Mark, 16.6667 g (15 g silver), from 1908 onwards
• 5 Mark, 27.7778 g (25 g silver)

The 3 Mark coin was introduced as a replacement for the Vereinsthaler coins of the previous currency, whose silver content was slightly more than that of the 3 Mark coin.

Gold coins Gold coins were minted in .900 fineness to a standard of 2790 Mark = 1 kilogram of gold. Gold coin production ceased in 1915.

• 5 Mark, 1.9912 g (1.7921 g gold)
• 10 Mark, 3.9825 g (3.5842 g gold)
• 20 Mark, 7.965 g (7.1685 g gold)

Banknotes Banknotes were issued by the Imperial Treasury (known as "Reichskassenschein") and the Reichsbank, as well as by the banks of some of the states. Imperial Treasury notes were issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 Mark, whilst Reichsbank notes were produced in denominations of 20, 50, 100 and 1000 Mark. The notes issued after 1914 are referred to as German papiermark.

References

External links {{Standard numismatics external links| world_coin_gallery_1_url = Germany| world_coin_gallery_1_name = Germany| banknote_world_1_url = germany1| banknote_world_1_name = Germany - 1865 to 1919| dollarization_1_url =| dollarization_1_name =| gfd_1_url = Germany| gfd_1_name = Germany| gfd_data_1_url =| gfd_data_1_name =| show_gfd_excel = Y-->