20 Mark Gold Coin
Also: Kaisermark, Twenty Mark, Gold Mark
The 20 Mark gold coin was a circulating currency coin of the German Empire (1871-1915), struck in 900 fine gold with a fine weight of 7.168 grams. Today it counts as investment gold and can be bought free of VAT.
The 20 Mark gold coin ranks among the most important circulating gold coins of the German Empire. Following unification in 1871 and the introduction of the gold mark as a single national currency, the twenty-mark pieces were struck under the Coinage Act of 1873. They served as full legal tender and formed the backbone of Germany's gold standard during that era.
Specifications and fineness
Every 20 Mark piece shares the same legally fixed dimensions: a gross weight of 7.965 grams at a fineness of 900/1000 (so-called crown gold) yields a fine weight of 7.168 grams of pure gold. The diameter measures 22.5 mm across all issues.
Fine weight = gross weight x fineness
7.168 g = 7.965 g x 0.900
You can work out the current melt value straight from this fine weight combined with the live gold price.
Minting states and designs
Within the Empire the individual states retained the right to strike coins. Alongside dominant Prussia, the kingdoms and duchies of Bavaria, Saxony, Wuerttemberg, Baden, Hamburg, Hesse and others issued their own 20 Mark pieces, each identifiable by different rulers' portraits and coats of arms. The reverse always carried the imperial eagle together with the denomination. Mint marks (A, B, D, E, F, G, J) tie each coin to its issuing mint.
| State | Mint | Mint mark |
|---|---|---|
| Prussia | Berlin | A |
| Bavaria | Munich | D |
| Saxony | Dresden/Muldenhuetten | E |
| Wuerttemberg | Stuttgart | F |
| Baden | Karlsruhe | G |
| Hamburg | Hamburg | J |
Tax and market relevance today
Under EU rules the 20 Mark gold coin qualifies as investment gold: it meets every condition set out in EU Directive 2006/112/EC (articles 344-356) - a fineness of at least 900/1000, minted after 1800, formerly legal tender, and normally sold at a premium of no more than 80 % above the metal value. The European Commission lists imperial German coins on its annual investment-gold schedule. In Ireland this means the purchase is exempt from VAT under the VAT Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 1.
For a private seller in Ireland any gain on disposal is chargeable to Capital Gains Tax at 33 %, after the annual personal exemption of EUR 1,270. Unlike Germany, where a holding period of over one year under Paragraph 23 EStG removes the tax entirely, Irish CGT applies regardless of how long the coin has been held - there is no holding-period relief.
Numismatically valuable specimens - rare year-marks, pattern strikes or issues from smaller mints - can command substantial premiums well beyond the melt value and may then lose their investment-gold status once the premium exceeds 80 %. It pays to research prices before buying such pieces. The premium for common grades is usually far lower.
For authentication, both a coin weight check and an authenticity check by density are worthwhile, since tungsten counterfeits do occasionally surface among historic coins.
Note: This is not tax advice. Individual tax questions - especially around collector items or uncertain acquisition dates - should be put to the Revenue Commissioners (revenue.ie) or a qualified adviser.
In brief
The 20 Mark gold coin blends historic collector appeal with a clearly measurable metal value of 7.168 g of fine gold, making it one of the most accessible entry-level coins for investors who want to combine history with physical gold.