Germany 2010 10€ 20th Anniversary of German Unity Silver Proof
German reunification was the process in which the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and Berlin, reunited into a single city, joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die Wende (The Turning Point), while the end of the unification process is officially referred to as the German unity (German: Deutsche Einheit), celebrated on 3 October (German Unity Day).
The East German regime started to falter in May 1989, when removal of Hungary's border fence opened a hole in the Iron Curtain. It caused an exodus of thousands of East Germans fleeing to West Germany and Austria via Hungary. The Peaceful Revolution, a series of protests by East Germans, led to the GDR's first free elections on 18 March 1990, and to the negotiations between the GDR and FRG that culminated in a Unification Treaty, whilst negotiations between the GDR and FRG and the four occupying powers produced the so-called "Two Plus Four Treaty" (Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany) granting full sovereignty to a unified German state, whose two halves had previously still been bound by a number of limitations stemming from their post-WWII status as occupied regions. The united Germany remained a member of the European Community (later the European Union) and of NATO.
This is the fourth silver commemorative released from Germany in 2010, coming after the Composer Robert Schumann (Hamburg), Computer pioneer Konrad Kuse (Karlsruhe) and 300th Anniversary of German Porcelain (Stuttgart) silver coins, and was struck at the Berlin Mint (A). As with the other earlier releases, and in fact all German silver 10 euro commemoratives, each coin is struck from 18.00 grams of 92.5% sterling silver on a 32.50mm flan, either in high proof (200,000 mintage) or brilliant uncirculated (2,300,000 mintage) quality.
Germany 2010 10€ 20th Anniversary of German Unity Silver BU
On the reverse is shown a map of the unified German state with the inscription "WIN SIND EIN VOLK" (We Are The People). Around the rim is the anniversary inscription of "20 Years Germany Unity". The obverse carries the familiar Eagle State Emblem, and as with previous issues it has been stylied to match the reverse design. Around the rim on this side is the year and country of issue, the nominal face value and "A" mintmark denoting the coin was struck at Berlin.
The silver proof coin is encapsulated while the brilliant uncirculated version is supplied in a protective plastic flip.
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