Most coin collectors are relaxed, sociable types, with a simple passion for small metal pieces that tell stories. But there exists a special breed of collectors who, seemingly unsatisfied with how much they get to say in their professional or personal lives, always have something to grumble about – even when it comes to coins. Take, for example, the new €2 coin commemorating the 35th anniversary of German reunification. A tribute to reunification, a celebration of national identity, and yet… collectors? They’re divided. Some say the design is a masterpiece, while others instantly switch to “know-it-all” mode, claiming that earlier coins were far superior.
It seems that some coin collectors will never be pleased. There’s always something too modern, too simple, or “not traditional enough.” You’d almost think that coin designers are deliberately trying to irritate their critics online by creating coins that don’t embody the romantic nostalgia of yesteryear. But wait a minute – isn’t that the point? Shouldn’t coins reflect the present?
The new €2 coin, set to be released in 2025, is a symbol of reunification, yet some argue it’s not worthy enough, claiming that beyond its simple typography, there’s nothing else to it. The more cynical voices suggest it’s typically German – dry as dust and obsessed with rules.
A lively debate about design is part and parcel of a passionate hobby. But what I repeatedly read in online forums whenever a new coin hits the market rarely goes beyond the usual “everything was better in the old days” or “how uninspired.” It almost seems as if complaining has become a hobby in its own right – a sort of competition (mainly under the guise of a supposedly funny fake name) to see who can come up with the most scathing comment.
But what exactly do CoinCritic, PennyPundit, MintMaverick, and all the others in the usual online forums and Facebook groups expect? That every coin design should be a nostalgic throwback to the 19th century? That we should be transported back to a time when every coin was a relic of a bygone era? No, that’s not how it works. Coins are snapshots of the present, and the new €2 coin reflects just that: a modern Germany, united, proud, and ready to shape the future.
Of course, there will always be nostalgic collectors who long for the old designs – the gleaming silver Deutschmark coins they collected in their youth. But that’s precisely the point: coins tell stories, and those stories change over time. The new coin represents today’s Germany, not the Germany of the past.
And yes, of course, there’s the matter of taste. Everyone has their opinions, everyone has their preferences. That’s to be respected. But shouldn’t we be proud of the different design approaches our coins take? Personally, I always find it fascinating and exciting to see how different participants in coin design competitions interpret the same theme. Sure, sometimes a design wins that I wouldn’t have chosen myself – but that’s okay, because sooner or later, another choice in the next competition will win me over even more.
What bothers me most, however, is when a central event like German reunification is overshadowed because the coin design is supposedly a failure. Coins are symbols of our identity, our history – and yes, also of change, just as reunification once represented a significant change.
Perhaps the eternal complainers should ask themselves: why am I even criticising these coins? Is it a desire for the old, for the familiar? Or is it simply an inability to embrace the new? Either way, at the end of the day, one truth remains: coins will continue to evolve, and that’s a good thing.
So, dear CoinCynic, dear SovereignSceptic, dear Lord Sterling (these names are, of course, entirely fictional to avoid a backlash against the editors), and all the other trolls: take the time to articulate your criticism constructively – or stop complaining. Appreciate the beauty of the new and acknowledge that coins aren’t just memories of the past, but also open a window to the future.