What is the currency of Germany?

The currency of Germany is the euro. Germany uses the euro as a member of the euro area, and the currency’s ISO 4217 code is EUR. Euro banknotes are shared across participating countries, while German euro coins carry nationally distinctive designs.

Germany adopted the euro in stages. It became an accounting currency on 1 January 1999, but euro coins and banknotes entered everyday circulation on 1 January 2002. The euro then replaced the Deutsche Mark, Germany’s national currency, during the cash changeover.

German euro coins are recognizable by motifs such as the German eagle, the Brandenburg Gate, and the oak leaf. These national designs appear on one side, while the common European design appears on the other. Despite the different artwork, German euro coins are legal tender throughout the euro area.

The Deutsche Mark is the most common historical answer people give when thinking of German money, but it has not been Germany’s current currency since the 2002 cash transition. The Danish krone and Swiss franc are neighboring European currencies, yet neither is used as Germany’s official money.