Collecting coins from the Third Reich, yea or nay?

I haven't collected much from the Third Reich, all I have is a 1938-A 10 Reichspfenning. I want to get more into coins from Germany but I do not feel right collecting coins from the Third Reich as it has the swatzika on them, and I don't want people to think I am a Nazi supporter, but it is part of history.

Your thoughts?

 

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I don't feel there's anything wrong with it. Unless you're the kind of person who feels that, by collecting early New Orleans mint coins, you're slavery.

 

Good point.

 

Many people collect coins of the Soviet Union, Cuba and China. That does not mean they are communists.

Collect what you like.

 

I have several coins from the third reich, and I plan to add to that collection. The coins represent a part of history, just like most coins do. There is nothing wrong with collecting those coins. It certainly doesn't mean your supporting nazis, lol.

 

Like Hobo said, there's only one rule, you collect what you want. Stalin murdered more innocent civilians than Hitler and Mao purportedly had them both topped in that unfortunate category...

 

As others have said: collect whatever you want

I love the big silver coins from the Third Reich. Hitler or not, the coins have a nice design

 

IMHO...
the swastika was hijacked by the nazis, similar to the k_X_k using the cross...both these symbols have a more histroical and religious values...please do not degrade the swastika by associating with nazis..

 

Rushmore, lookie here: http://www.cointalk.com/forum/t6170/. Old thread, recently revived, truly absorbing read on this question...

 

I believe by collecting stuff from that era, you keep the past noticed, and draw awareness to the time and history. You cannot ignore history, or pretend it didn't happen, or it will repeat itself.

I faced a similar dilemma when I decided to add this to my collection:

Originally this design was initiated for an Austrian 100 Schilling note that was supposed to be released in 1938-39. We all know that in 1938 Germany invaded Austria and absorbed it into the Reich. In addition to stealing their nation, they also stole Austria's currency design and appropriated it for their Nazi currency, the Reichsmark.

So here you have it, a note that is otherwise very Austrian in design, appropriated by the Nazi's and an otherwise very attractive note was uglified by the placement of the swastika symbol.

But Austria got the last word, after the re-establishment of the Austrian Schilling currency, in 1947 Austria released the fraulein note, with a bit different design...

A very popular note with collectors, and very scarce today.

So numismatics tells a story if you let it.
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I refuse to collect coins from Mongolia until the Government of Mongolia
apologizes for the war crimes committed by Genghis Khan.

 

There is no reason to not collect what you like. If someone calls you Nazi for collecting/having 3rd. Reich coins is a moron, and their words are worthless. You shouldn't worry about.

 

I agree 100% with that. Absolutely wonderful point.

 

Collect what you like as Mumbapuri says the swastika is a very very old symbol

Here it is on a coin from the Sunga dynasty in India 187-75 Bc

 

yea i agree i love third reich coins and the great Rg himself told me i know how to pick them

 

Also used by southwestern (US) tribes, most notably, the Navajo.....

 

The Swastika was first used at the 1933 Chicago Worlds's Fair and Exposition
and trademarked by the "Don't Worry Club" of Chicago.

 

Of course the swastika was (and to some extent still is) used in contexts other than "Nazi Germany". But that is kind of pointless when it comes to Third Reich coinage ...

And sure, everybody is free to collect whatever s/he wants to collect. I have quite a few coins from pre-1949 Germany too, including nazi coins, as part of my German/European collection. And while I find it strange to collect only the latter, I know that it is somewhat popular among American collectors.

What I try to keep in mind when buying collector coins (ie. above face) is, does my purchase in any way support a dictatorial regime? Around here (Germany) for example many people refused to buy such coins from the GDR (East G.) until 1990 when the country joined the Federal Republic. Nowadays quite a few find them interesting and want or have them. Nothing wrong with that methinks.

Christian

 

We always put Third Reich stuff in the display cases. Coins and stamps as they are very good sellers and generally very affordable.
It's not a bunch of Nazi's buying it either. It's history as you pointed out and a part we should never forget.

 

Well, if somebody collects nazi coins as part of some Third Reich memorabilia collection, that may be different. But I don't see any reason why having a couple of German coins from the first half of the previous century that show a more or less prominently placed swastika would make others think the owner shares the ideology ...

And yes, there is quite a lot in history that we should never forget. Of course coins can only a very small contribution in that regard - many atrocities and other "events" are not or hardly reflected this way. But a piece like the 5 RM coin that kvarterto posted can be an interesting start of, say, a school lesson about nazism, especially when combined with one from the earlier years.

Christian