50 Pfennigs - Berching

1920 year


Iron	4.3 g	25.3 mm

Description

Issuer	City of Berching (Federal state of Bavaria)
Period	Weimar Republic (1918-1933)
Type	Standard circulation coin
Year	1920
Value	50 Pfennigs (50 Pfennige) (0.50)
Currency	Mark (1914-1924)
Composition	Iron
Weight	4.3 g
Diameter	25.3 mm
Thickness	1.3 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized	Yes
Updated	2024-10-04

References

Numista	N#312924
Rarity index	94%

Reverse

Pearl rim, legend surrounding pearl circle, coat of arms in front of pike in a bird cage

Script: Latin

Lettering: ZEIT UND NOT MEIN DASEIN GEBOT

Edge

Plain

Comment

THE LEGEND OF THE BERCHING’S PIKE IN A BIRD CAGE

A long time ago the Sulz was in full fl ood and the valley became a lake as far as Plankstetten. All fishes were very happy, but floods went out as quickly as they had come. A curious pike stood behind and remained all by itself in the meadows. A Berching’s inhabitant found it: as he had never seen such a strange animal before, he carried it to the town hall. There the question was discussed at length and in the end everybody agreed that it was a bird. And - just like a peculiar bird - the pike was put in a bird cage in
order to be admired by all the crowded people. As the pike opened its mouth for exhaling its last breathe the visitors from the neighbouring towns heard many Berching’s people saying: „Silence, it’s going to sing!“
The inhabitants of Berching led a very secluded life for a long time as the neighbours made fun of them everywhere they went, saying „Look at him, he’s a Berching’s pike!“

Interesting fact

The 50 Pfennigs - Berching 1920 coin was minted during a time of economic turmoil in Germany, known as the hyperinflation period. In 1920, the price of iron, the metal used to make the coin, had increased significantly, making it difficult for the government to produce coins. As a result, the German government decided to produce coins made of iron, which was a cheaper alternative to other metals. This coin, therefore, serves as a reminder of the economic challenges faced by Germany in the early 1920s.