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The Masterpieces of German Literature series will be issued again on October 6 by the German Federal Ministry of Finance (Bundesministerium der Finanzen). This recent release, minted in pure gold and with a face value of 100 euros, is the third piece in the series and is dedicated to one of the most iconic works by the German poet and novelist Joseph von Eichendorff, "From the Life of a Good-for-nothing."
Joseph Karl Benedikt Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788–1857) was one of the most representative writers of German Romanticism. Born in Lubowitz Castle, in what was then Prussian Silesia, he studied law in Halle and Heidelberg, where he came into contact with the Romantic intellectual circles that would influence his literary career. Throughout his life, he combined an administrative career with writing, cultivating poetry, prose, and criticism. His brief, musical, and evocative lyrics, centered on nature and the feeling of Sehnsucht (longing), made him one of the most influential voices of Romanticism.
Among his prose works, Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts (From the Life of a Good-for-Nothing, or, according to other translations, Memoirs of a Good-for-Nothing) stands out. It was written in 1823 and published in 1826. It is a short novel considered paradigmatic of German Romanticism. The story begins with a young peasant, whom his own father despises as "Taugenichts" (literally, "good-for-nothing"), and who, accompanied only by his violin, decides to leave home to travel the world. His journey takes him to various settings, from a manor house near Vienna to bucolic landscapes, where he experiences love, makes unexpected friendships, and takes on odd jobs.
The work combines narrative and lyrical elements, interspersing songs and poems that reinforce its musical character, a characteristic of Eichendorff. It reflects central Romantic motifs: the figure of the wanderer seeking freedom from bourgeois obligations, the exaltation of nature as a spiritual space, and the tension between the idyllic and the social.
For these reasons, From the Life of a Useless Man has been considered one of the most representative works of German-language Romanticism. Its style, described by various critics as "musical prose," has made it a model for literature courses and the subject of numerous academic interpretations. Since its publication, the novel has enjoyed widespread international circulation and has been translated into several languages, consolidating Eichendorff's reputation as an essential author in the 19th-century European literary tradition.
The obverse of the coin depicts the German federal eagle with outstretched wings, surrounded by the twelve stars of the European Union. On the left, the value "100 EURO" appears next to the mint mark "A" (Berlin), while below it appears the legend "BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND," indicating the issuing country, and below it, the year of issue "2025."
The obverse of the piece, laden with symbolism, depicts the inner transformation of the main figure: on the left are a quill, paper, and an abacus, symbols of a rational, economically driven life. On the right, however, a forest, a female figure, and floral ornaments predominate: symbols of freedom, emotion, and lightness. The "useless musician" in the center embodies the transition from a purely pragmatic existence to one determined by emotions and freedom, a shift in values underscored by the inscription: "AUS DEM LEBEN EINES TAUGENICHTS" (From the life of a useless person). Furthermore, on the right edge of the image, next to the flowers, are the initials of the coin's artist, "BP" (Bastian Prillwitz).
Technical characteristics
Issue date: October 6, 2025
Country: Germany
Face value: 100 euros
Metal: 999.9 Gold
Weight: 15.55 g (1/2 troy ounce)
Diameter: 28 mm
Quality: BU
Print run: 66,000
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