I have a 2 Reichsmark German coin and I was wondering if anyone new what the german phrase on the coin's rim meant. Thank you for looking.
It would help to know which coin you have. There is one coin of that denomination listed for the Weimar Republic (minted 1925-31) and four listed for the Third Reich (minted 1933, 1934 (2), and 1936-39), and they don't all have the same legends. A picture would also be helpful, since Krause's pictures are not very clear. Of course all of the legends include "Deutsches Reich", meaning "German Land", and the denomination "Reichsmark", but I assume you are asking about the rest of the legend. If you can't post a picture, how about the date and the actual text you are asking about?
It's from 1939. There is a picture of it on this website: http://www.joelscoins.com/wwii.htm It's the coin on the far left. I think that the rim says: Bemefnnut geht vor efaennut But it is very hard to read. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
"Gemeinnutz geht vor Eigennutz". It means: "The common good comes before personal need." (If the Normans had not been successful in 1066 and English were still a Germanic language, we might say: "Ye Main Needs goeth fore Own Needs." GE MEN NUTZ GEHT VOR EIGEN NUTZ) The next time you hear about "the common good" think of that coin and all that went with it before and after. Michael Der Einziger und sein Eigentum
