O nouă monedă comemorativă din Germania - 01.09.2026

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There are few cities in the world that can boast of having a means of transport that has become a true local symbol. Wuppertal has one of them, and probably one of the most surprising: a train that for 125 years has run suspended above the streets and, for much of its journey, directly over the waters of the Wupper River.

Germany is now celebrating this extraordinary feat of engineering with a new partially colored 35 euro coin, which will be issued on September 17, 2026.

But the piece holds much more than meets the eye. Besides the suspended train and the architecture of Wuppertal, a small elephant appears at its base. It's not merely decorative: it commemorates one of the most incredible episodes in the history of European transport.

A design that tells this whole story

The person in charge of transferring this peculiar universe to the coin has been the Berlin artist Heinz Hoyer.

The main motif depicts a modern articulated Schwebebahn train departing from Hauptbahnhof station. The station building occupies the background of the composition, while the train moves forward suspended above small groups of people standing in the square.

The difference in scale between the passengers and the enormous metal structure helps to convey the true dimensions of this infrastructure.

 

The train also receives a partial blue treatment. This isn't simply about adding color to the design: the blue immediately draws the eye to the vehicle and reinforces the feeling of movement and of being literally suspended above the city.

The large steel structures form a triangular composition around the train and draw the eye towards the center of the coin.

And beneath it all, visually separated by the arch of a bridge, we find the small body of an elephant: Tuffi. Those unfamiliar with the story might think it's an odd element in the design. Once you know it, it's probably one of the most memorable details of the entire coin. 

 

 

The other side of the coin

The face, designed by Bodo Broschat, features the German federal eagle surrounded by the twelve European stars, accompanied by the legend "BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND", the year 2026, the face value of 35 EURO and the mark A, corresponding to the Berlin State Mint.

The song contains another direct reference to the line:

VOHWINKEL BIS OBERBARMEN BIS

These are precisely the two ends of the Schwebebahn route. Due to the circular shape of the edge, the inscription can be read continuously, symbolically linking the journey between both ends.

 

The same coin, but two quite different versions

The issue is particularly interesting from a numismatic point of view because Germany will produce two versions that differ not only in their finish, but also in the amount of silver and their weight.

Feature Stempelglanz Spiegelglanz

Face value €35 €35
Silver Ag 500 Ag 925
Weight 17 g 18 g
Diameter 32.5 mm 32.5 mm
Issue price €35 in Germany €69.95
Mint Berlin (A) Berlin (A)
Print run Not officially indicated Maximum 63,000

The Stempelglanz version is the standard issue and is available in Germany for its face value of 35 euros. It is made of 500/1000 silver and weighs approximately 17 grams.

The highest quality Spiegelglanz version, specifically intended for collectors, maintains the originally planned superior specifications: 925 sterling silver and 18 grams in weight. Münze Deutschland has set a price of €69.95 for this version and a maximum mintage of 63,000 pieces.

The curious story of a coin that was going to be worth 20 euros

This issue also has a small numismatic history of its own.

When the German government officially unveiled the coin in April 2025, it was planned to have a face value of 20 euros, be made of 925 fine silver, and weigh 18 grams.

However, the significant rise in the price of silver forced Germany to revise its commemorative coin program. The first decision was to raise the face value of the traditional silver coins to 35 euros.

The volatility of the metal continued and in March 2026 the German Government adopted a second measure: reducing the silver content of Stempelglanz coins from 925 to 500 thousandths and their weight from 18 to approximately 17 grams.

The Spiegelglanz versions, however, were left out of this modification and continue to be manufactured in 925 fine silver and weigh 18 grams.

Thus, the coin that will finally be issued on September 17, 2026, not only commemorates the 125th anniversary of one of Germany's most unique engineering feats, but also reflects, in its very specifications, a particularly significant moment for German silver coins. 

 

 

 

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