Obverse: identify the front

The illustrated KM45 obverse shows an eagle with spread wings, DEUTSCHES REICH around it and the complete 1926 date below. The full face remains visible, including worn surface detail and the border. This eagle/date design identifies the pictured circulation family; it does not establish the fineness or authenticity of a different two-Reichsmark coin. Preserve the complete date and legend when photographing an example from a collection.

Reverse: identify the back

The photographed reverse has the numeral 2 above REICHS MARK inside a leafy wreath and D at the bottom. The complete numeral separates this denomination from the smaller one-Reichsmark with related artwork. Surface wear is preserved in the image rather than replaced with a drawing. The D belongs to the illustrated 1926 example; the annual source table contains several other letters and does not promise the same availability for each dated issue.

History and purpose

The reference lists the eagle/wreath KM45 as a Weimar two-Reichsmark circulation design. Its actual dated table has an early 1925–1927 run followed by 1931. The broader melt heading 1925–1931 is a family envelope and does not imply annual production in the gap. The later two-Reichsmark melt group uses a different .625/8-g standard. The repeated denomination and similar reference silver ounces should not conceal that composition boundary.

How to identify this variant

Confirm 2 REICHS MARK, the eagle/wreath KM45 design and one of the four verified years before counting. The nominal source figures are 10 g and .500 silver; the reference’s dated record supplies a 28-mm diameter reference. Record your actual measurements separately, including photographs of the edge. Do not force a coin with a different design or measurements into this profile merely because the denomination or date resembles the family heading.

Understanding its metal content

One matching KM45 coin contributes .1607 reference fine silver troy ounce; three total .4821 ounce and 30 nominal gross grams. Nominal fine-silver mass is 10 g × .500 = 5 g per coin. The dated type table displays .1608 ASW, so its small discrepancy is disclosed and the designated melt figure .1607 remains controlling. Do not average those values or count the full ten gross grams as silver.

Dates, varieties and composition changes

The actual year list is 1925–1927 and 1931. The guide and summary card retain this gap instead of displaying the broad envelope as continuous production. Regular and explicit proof rows are separated in the annual research record. The illustrated 1926-D coin does not illustrate every year, finish or mint. Other commemorative types and the later .625 standard stay outside this calculator until their separate identification and composition are reviewed.

Identify the dated design before counting

KM45 — 1925 and 1926

Both years list A, D, E, F, G and J. A specific 1925-E proof row is shown. These annual entries establish dated combinations; they do not authenticate a customer specimen or mean every coin with that letter is a proof.

KM45 — 1927 and 1931

1927 lists A, D, E, F and J, with a separate E proof. 1931 lists D, E, F, G and J. No 1928, 1929 or 1930 row occurs in the inspected table. An undated common-date proof entry adds no specific date.

Excluded standards

This guide covers the eagle/wreath circulation design KM45 only. Other Weimar commemorative designs need their own catalogue attribution. The later 1933–1939 .625 two-Reichsmark reference has a different gross weight and fineness and is a separate private research target, despite the same broad melt-table ASW.

Melt value versus collector value

Retain the exact year, mint letter, denomination, design and finish with each coin. Catalogue proof entries do not establish that a worn example is a proof. A reference photograph is not a grade assessment, and metal content does not determine collector interest. Keep original packaging, old attribution notes and provenance with the correct piece. Avoid cleaning surfaces to expose lettering. Request an assessment of the actual coin where a dated variety, unusual finish or condition could affect its value.

Authenticity and condition

Provide clear images of both whole faces and the edge, plus measured mass and diameter when available. Include the complete date, mint letter and all denomination lettering. Matching an illustration is an identification aid, not proof of authenticity or a laboratory assay. Wear, plating, alteration and a wrongly attributed type cannot be resolved from a reference photograph. Separate uncertain pieces for specialist review before including them in a counted metal-content lot.

Selling this coin

Sort identified KM45 .500 two-Reichsmark coins away from one-Reichsmark pieces, other commemorative designs and the later .625 two-Reichsmark standard. The existing quote form can carry the verified denomination and quantity with your photographs and notes. Live dollar pricing remains unavailable. Reference silver ounces are theoretical content, not a purchase offer, collectible valuation or a promise of recoverable metal from the actual worn coins.

Sources and calculation methodology

The designated reference melt table and two-Reichsmark detail specify 10 g gross mass, .500 fineness and .1607 fine silver troy ounce. KM45 agrees on mass and fineness but displays .1608 ASW; this calculator retains the designated .1607 without averaging. Its diameter field displays 28 mm, retained as that the reference catalogue reference rather than a measurement of every coin. Thickness, edge and remaining alloy-metal identities are not verified. Nominal specifications do not establish an assay or authentication of a customer coin. Actual annual rows were inspected on 2026-10-11, and undated common-proof entries were not expanded into years. Jobel’s two independent Commons file pages release the illustrated faces under CC0 1.0. The downloaded whole-face photographs are converted to WebP at their actual dimensions, without upscaling, cropping away the coin, replacing artwork or changing the depicted date. Side assignment follows the visible eagle/date and denomination/wreath layouts; inconsistent old Commons descriptions are retained as research context rather than copied into the guide.

Common questions

References

• NGC: designated world-silver melt table — identity; weight; .500 fineness; controlling ASW 0.1607oz; broad envelope (checked 2026-10-11)
• NGC: two-Reichsmark designated melt detail — identity; weight 10g; .500 fineness; controlling ASW .1607oz (checked 2026-10-11)
• NGC: weimar-two dated type — identity; dates from actual annual rows; design; weight; fineness; ASW; diameter (checked 2026-10-11)
• Jobel: 1926 2 Reichsmark obverse and licence — genuine design photograph; creator; CC0 1.0 permission (checked 2026-10-11)
• Jobel: 1926 2 Reichsmark reverse and licence — genuine design photograph; creator; CC0 1.0 permission (checked 2026-10-11)

Issue-year references

• NGC: weimar-two dated type

Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-11. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.

Related coins

Weimar Silver Mark / Reichsmark — .500 Issues

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

Germany • 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not verified

Issue years: 1924–1927

Fine silver: 0.080400 troy oz

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