1983 East Germany 5 Mark Wittenberg Church Commemorative Silver Coin NGC MS65 1983A: Year of minting 1983; A = Berlin Mint mark (the only mint in East Germany) E.GERMANY: East Germany, German Democratic Republic (East Germany) 5M: Face value 5 Mark (East German Mark) WITTENBERG CHURCH: Theme – Wittenberg All Saints' Church (Lutheran Church) MS65: NGC top grade, uncirculated condition, coin surface in perfect original luster, only very slight factory contact marks, a high-grade collector's item. Obverse Main design: Wittenberg All Saints' Church (Schlosskirche zu Wittenberg) Surrounding the German inscription Schlosskirche zu Wittenberg, meaning Wittenberg Castle Church; Historical significance: This is where Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses, the birthplace of the European Reformation, and a landmark of German Protestantism; Material: Kupfer-Nickel-Zink Reverse: Outer ring German inscription: DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK = German Democratic Republic Center East German coat of arms: compass, hammer, and wheat sheaf, a classic symbol of socialist East Germany. Bottom marked with the year 1983 and face value 5 MARK. The small letter A above the coat of arms is the Berlin Mint mark. Purpose of issue: To commemorate the Wittenberg Castle Church, a holy site of the Reformation. Belongs to the East German historical monuments commemorative silver coin series, and is one of the classic East German silver coin series. Era: German Democratic Republic during the Cold War. East German currency was completely discontinued after German reunification in 1990. Mintage: Approximately 2 million Wittenberg 5 Mark coins were minted in 1983. Most surviving uncirculated, un-circulated, MS65 grade coins are rare.