Emergency 10 Pfennig coin

In 1920, the year in which the anniversary of Beethoven’s 150th birthday was celebrated, it was a different zeitgeist that brought his portrait onto this “emergency money” coin. It was made during inflation out of low-grade metals as a kind of ersatz money in place of gold and silver coins. In this way Beethoven found his way into the pockets of almost all inhabitants of his native city. Beethoven was often portrayed on coins and stamps. In 2020 he adorns a 20 euro memorial coin.