pfennig n : 100 pfennigs equal 1 Deutsche Mark [also: pfennige (pl)]

see Pfennig

English

Etymology

• Pfennig

Pronunciation

• a UK
  • /ˈpfˌɛn.ɪg/, /"pf%En.Ig/
  • /ˈfɛn.ɪg/, /"fEn.Ig/ qualifier Anglicised

Noun

1. One one-hundredth of the former German mark italbrac Deutsche Mark.

Translations

The Pfennig (abbreviation Pf) is an old German coin or note, which existed from the 9th century until the introduction of the euro in 2002.

While a valuable coin during the Middle Ages, it lost its value through the years and was the minor coin of the Mark in the German Reich, the FRG and the GDR.

A ligature of the letters 'p' and 'f' exists for the pfennig: The Goldmark, introduced in 1873 as currency of the newly founded German Reich, was parted as 1 Mark = 100 Pfennigs. This partition was retained through all German currencies until 2001. The last West German one- and two-Pfennig coins were steel with a copper coating, the five- and ten-Pfennig coins were steel with a brass coating. The latter was called Groschen. All four coins had their value imprinted on the obverse and oak on the reverse. The coins of the Mark Of The DDR were made of aluminium, except for the 20 Pfennigs coin, which was made of an aluminium copper alloy.

Pfennig since the euro

After the introduction of the euro, some, mainly older, Germans tend to use the term Pfennig instead of cent for the copper-coloured coins (and the term Groschen for the 10-cent-coin).

See also

• Bracteate
• Penny