4 Reichspfennig, Germany (2024)

Features

Issuer	Germany (1871-1948)
Period	Weimar Republic (1918-1933)
Type	Standard circulation coin
Year	1932
Value	4 Reichspfennig (0.04&nbspRM)
Currency	Reichsmark (1924-1948)
Composition	Bronze
Weight	5.0g
Diameter	24mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized	1 October 1933
Number	N# 8463
References	KM# 75, Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Coins / 2001-Date (14^th edition). Krause Publications, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States. And 5 more volumes. AKS# 52, Paul Arnold, Harald Küthmann, Dirk Steinhilber; 2022. Großer deutscher Münzkatalog von 1800 bis heute (37^th edition). Battenberg Gietl Verlag, Regenstauf, Germany. J# 315, Kurt Jaeger, Michael Kurt Sonntag; 2021. Die deutschen Münzen seit 1871 : mit Prägezahlen und Bewertungen (27^th edition). Battenberg Gietl Verlag, Regenstauf, Germany. Schön# 38 Gerhard Schön; 2022. Weltmünzkatalog / 20. Jahrhundert: 1901-2000 (47. Auflage). Battenberg Gietl Verlag, Regenstauf, Germany. And 1 more volumes.

Obverse

A German eagle above the mintmark

Script: Latin

Lettering: D

Engraver: Reinhard Kullrich

Reverse

The numerical value in the center

Script: Latin

Lettering:
DEUTSCHES REICH 1932
4
REICHSPFENNIG

Translation:
German Reich 1932
4
Reichspfennig

Engraver: Reinhard Kullrich

Edge

Plain

Mints

A	Berlin, Germany (1280-date)
D	Munich, Germany (1158-date)
E	Muldenhütten, Germany (1887-1953)
F	Staatliche Münze Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart, Germany (1374-date)
G	Staatliche Münze Baden-Württemberg, Karlsruhe, Germany (1827-date)
J	Hamburgische Münze, Germany (801-date)

Comments

This coin was issued in 1932 amid the Great Depression. Chancellor Heinrich Brüning's government decreed the issuance of this unusual face value on 8 December 1931, hoping that it would replace 5-pfennig coins and thereby help to reduce prices in those times of great economic hardship. The coin was, however, not very well-received by the population as it was awkward to use in a decimal system, and very few orders with the Reichsbank (central bank) were placed by banks and public institutions. Many of these coins circulated only for a short period and quickly returned to the central bank, despite instructions by the government to pay amounts of 2 marks (as a part of wages and salaries) in 4-pfennig coins. The coin was demonetized on 1 October 1933 after little more than a year in circulation. The coin's unpopularity explains its relative scarcity today.

The German population used several nicknames for this coin, most of which mocked the government's naive and largely unsuccessful deflationary policy. The most popular name in general use (and still remembered by coin collectors today) was "Brüning-Taler" ("Brüning dollar", after the then German chancellor Heinrich Brüning). Varieties of this name were "Brüning-Pfennig" and "Brüning-Sechser" ("Sechser" describes a 6-pfennig coin, an allusion to the unusual face value). The Berlin newspaper "Der Tag" even held a contest to find the wittiest name for the coin. Among the proposals sent by readers were names like "Armer Heinrich" ("Poor Heinrich"; after chancellor Heinrich Brüning), "Heinrichs Taler" ("Heinrich's dollar"), "Brünette" ("brunette", a pun on the chancellor's surname), "Heini" (the chancellor's nickname), "Hilfskreuzer" ("auxiliary penny"), "Rettungsmedaille" ("rescue medal"), "Druckknopf" ("press button"), "Proleten-Dollar" ("poor people's dollar"), "Pleite-Groschen" ("bankruptcy penny"), "Nottablette" ("emergency pill"), "Krisenkitt" ("crisis putty"), "Young-Pfennig" ("Young penny", after the Young Plan to settle Germany's World War I reparations) and "Tributgroschen" ("tribute penny").

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Date	Mintage	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC	Frequency
1932A	27 100 599		£ 4.30	£ 6.80	£ 7.60	£ 8.70	68%
1932A							0.8%	Proof
1932D	7 055 000	£ 4.70	£ 4.70	£ 6.80			23%
1932D							0.5%	Proof
1932E	3 729 400			£ 5.20			9%
1932E							0.3%	Proof
1932F	5 021 648		£ 5.90	£ 7.20	£ 7.20		15%
1932F							0.4%	Proof
1932G	3 050 290		£ 5.20	£ 5.20	£ 5.40		11%
1932G							0.19%	Proof
1932J	4 093 938		£ 5.50	£ 6.80			15%
1932J							0.6%	Proof

Values in the table above are expressed in GBP. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this coin. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.

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Numista Rarity index: 11

This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Version	Grade	Sold price
	Heritage Auctions 2022 May 29 The Kansas Collection of German Coins Showcase Auction 61272 Lot 97383	29 May 2022	1932 D – Proof	UNC (PCGS PR64 Red and Brown)	GBP 303.58 (USD 384.00) (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Katz Auction 96 Lot 723	23 Sep 2023	Undetermined	UNC	GBP 7.63 (EUR 9.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 96 Lot 722	23 Sep 2023	Undetermined	UNC	GBP 68.65 (EUR 81.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 72 Lot 1688	21 Dec 2022	Undetermined	UNC	GBP 17.80 (EUR 21.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 116 Lot 694	9 Mar 2024	Undetermined	AU	GBP 5.09 (EUR 6.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 96 Lot 724	23 Sep 2023	Undetermined		GBP 23.73 (EUR 28.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 72 Lot 1687	21 Dec 2022	Undetermined		GBP 51.70 (EUR 61.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 67 Lot 289	24 Sep 2022	Undetermined		GBP 38.14 (EUR 45.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.

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