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German Empire

Numeral / Eagle Issues of

1875-1890


FINALLY, in 1875, the German Empire implemented a single currency, for use in all its European states. The new Goldmark, or Mark, was equal to 100 Pfennig.



Between 1875 and 1877, a new series of German Empire postage stamps was issued, featuring a large numeral in the middle, or an eagle in the middle, with large numerals in the lower corners, and they were denominated in "Pfennige".

The catalog attributes, for stamps denominated in "Pfennige", are as follows.


  • 03 Pf.  (1875 - Mi. #31, Sc. #29) - Blue Green, Yellowish Green.
  • 05 Pf.  (1875 - Mi. #32, Sc. #30) - Violet.
  • 10 Pf.  (1875 - Mi. #33, Sc. #31) - Rose, Carmine Red.
  • 20 Pf.  (1875 - Mi. #34, Sc. #32) - Ultramarine, Blue.
  • 25 Pf.  (1875 - Mi. #35, Sc. #33) - Red Brown, Yellowish Brown, Brown.
  • 50 Pf.  (1875 - Mi. #36, Sc. #34) - Gray, Yellowish Gray.
  • 50 Pf.  (1877 - Mi. #38, Sc. #35) - Olive Gray.



A two Mark denomination German Empire postage stamp was also issued in 1875, primarily intended for domestic official usage. This stamp, with cancellations prior to 1884, is quite expensive.  The stamp was printed, over the next twenty-five years, in several distinct shades, and many of them were later used as "forerunners" in the German colonies.  Three of them are shown above.

An official "reprint" of the two Mark was issued in 1899, and it is quite valuable  With a catalog value of 450 Euros, for a mint lightly hinged stamp in the 2010 Michel Deutschland-Spezial-Katalog.

The catalog attributes are as follows.


  • 02 Mk.  (1875 - Mi. #37, Sc. #36) - Purple, Violet Purple, Brownish Purple, Rose Lilac, Gray Lilac, Reddish Carmine.



In 1880, the 1875 postage stamps were re-issued, with the denomination changed to "Pfennig".  These German Empire stamps were produced over a period of about 10 years, and as such, there are many shades.  Only the major shades are listed below.

An imperforate reprint of the 10 Pf. was made in 1886.

Postal forgeries
of the 10 Pf., used in Strassburg in 1885, and of the 50 Pf., used in Barmen in 1882, exist, and they are both VERY RARE.

The catalog attributes, for stamps denominated in "Pfennig", are as follows.


  • 03 Pf.  (1880 - Mi. #39, Sc. #37) - Green, Yellow Green.
  • 05 Pf.  (1880 - Mi. #40, Sc. #38) - Violet.
  • 10 Pf.  (1880 - Mi. #41, Sc. #39) - Rose, Rose Red, Carmine Red, Yellowish Red, Yellowish Orange.
  • 20 Pf.  (1880 - Mi. #42, Sc. #40) - Ultramarine.
  • 25 Pf.  (1880 - Mi. #43, Sc. #41) - Rose Brown, Red Brown, Orange Brown, Red Orange, Yellowish Brown.
  • 50 Pf.  (1880 - Mi. #44, Sc. #42) - Olive Gray, Olive Green, Gray Green.



Between 1889 and 1900, a new set of seven postage stamps was issued, with new designs featuring a new legend, "REICHPOST".

These stamps also served as forerunners, having been used in the German colonies, in their offices in the Turkish Empire, and in their offices in Morocco, prior to official postage stamps being printed and issued in those areas.  Watch any cancellation you may see on these carefully.  The stamps with postmarks used in the German colonies or in their post offices abroad are worth MUCH more than regular used examples with Germany postmarks.

Reprints were made of the 3 Pf., 25 Pf., and 50 Pf. denominations in 1899. Postal forgeries also exist for the 10 Pf. denomination, and used examples are EXTREMELY RARE, being worth many thousands of Euros.

The catalog attributes are as follows.


  • 02 Pf.  (1900 - Mi. #52, Sc. #45) - Gray.
  • 03 Pf.  (1889 - Mi. #45, Sc. #46) - Brown, Yellowish Brown, Reddish Brown.
  • 05 Pf.  (1889 - Mi. #46, Sc. #47) - Green, Yellowish Green, Blue Green.
  • 10 Pf.  (1889 - Mi. #47, Sc. #48) - Carmine, Carmine Red, Carmine Rose, Brownish Rose, Rose Red.
  • 20 Pf.  (1889 - Mi. #48, Sc. #49) - Ultramarine, Prussian Blue, Violet Ultramarine.
  • 25 Pf.  (1890 - Mi. #49, Sc. #50) - Orange, Yellowish Orange, Red Orange.
  • 50 Pf.  (1889 - Mi. #50, Sc. #51) - Chocolate, Copper Brown, Reddish Brown.





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Numeral / Eagle Issues of 1875-1890






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