1918 Coblenz Lamb－77.2 25 Pfennig Notgeld Iron Coin (NGC MS65) Hightlights: 1. Strong historical narrative as a WWI emergency issue. 2. Iron coins frequently show rust or oxidation; well-preserved high-grade examples (especially Mint State) are exceptionally scarce due to the unstable material. 3. Graded MS65 by NGC, the only one MS65 grade and the highest grade awarded by NGC, this is a top-tier German numismatic collectible. Coin Story: During 1914–1918, World War I caused severe metal shortages in Germany (copper, nickel, and other metals were diverted to military use), leading to a critical shortage of official Reichsbank coins. The government permitted cities, provinces, and large companies to issue private emergency money (Notgeld or Kriegsgeld) as temporary substitutes for circulation. Coblenz (in the Prussian Rhine Province) issued this iron series in 1918 as Kriegsgeld (war money). Obverse: Features the Coblenz city coat of arms, with “COBLENZ” above and the legend “GÜLTIG BIS 1 JAHR NACH FRIEDENSSCHLUSS” (“Valid until 1 year after the conclusion of peace”) around the rim. This reflects contemporary hopes for the end of the war (the Armistice came in November 1918; the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919–1920). Reverse: Large “25” in the center, “KRIEGSGELD 1918” above, flanked by six-pointed stars, and “PFENNIG” below. Specifications: Iron composition, diameter approx. 23.7–24 mm, weight approx. 5.2 g, plain edge. Struck by the private firm Gebrüder Kugel & Fink in Lüdenscheid (not an official mint). The coin symbolizes the economic collapse and metal famine in late-war Germany. Iron was the cheapest durable substitute but prone to rust. Its temporary validity period highlights its emergency nature. After the war, hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic made Notgeld series important tangible evidence for studying German economic history and local currency systems. The 1918 Kriegsgeld issue from Coblenz complements the city’s later 1921 Görres portrait Notgeld.