Women on Commemorative Coins: A Long Road to True Equality

On the 5-DM commemorative coins of the Federal Republic of Germany, not a single woman was featured. It wasn’t until 3 July 1992 that a 10-DM silver coin was issued to mark the 125th birthday of Käthe Kollwitz, making her the first female personality honoured on a German commemorative coin. Only one more woman followed before the euro was introduced: Hildegard von Bingen, who was commemorated in 1998 with a silver coin for her 900th birthday. During the euro era, it took until 2005 for another woman to appear on a German commemorative coin—Bertha von Suttner, honoured on a silver coin marking the 100th anniversary of her Nobel Peace Prize.

Female Figures – A Rare Sight on Commemorative Coins

Even today, the presence of women on German commemorative coins remains limited: Elisabeth of Thuringia (2007), Marion Gräfin Dönhoff (2009) and the Women’s Football World Cup in Germany (2011). After that, no other women appeared on German commemorative coins until the 10-euro series was discontinued. The 20-euro commemorative coin for Nelly Sachs (2016) was followed in 2019 by a 20-euro coin marking “100 Years of Women’s Suffrage”—the first explicit numismatic recognition of gender equality in years. On average, a woman is honoured on a German commemorative coin approximately every two years—if at all.

This pace of recognition is set to change in the coming years: In 2025, a coin will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the International Women’s Year, which brought global attention to gender equality and women’s rights. Also in 2025, Elly Heuss-Knapp will be honoured for her work as the founder of the Müttergenesungswerk, an organisation dedicated to the health and recovery of mothers.

In 2026, Elisabeth Schwarzhaupt will be featured on a coin. As Germany’s first female federal minister, she played a key role in shaping gender equality policies.

The spotlight in 2027 will be on Tamara Danz, the rock musician best known as the frontwoman of the East German band “Silly”.

In 2028, Astrid Lindgren, the world-famous children’s book author, will be commemorated. Her iconic characters, including Pippi Longstocking, have captivated generations of readers.

A year later, in 2029, a coin will honour Anne Frank, whose diary remains one of the most significant testimonies of the Nazi era.

In 2030, Marlene Dietrich, the actress and singer who achieved international fame and took a stand against the Nazi regime, will be featured on a coin.

In 2031, Hannah Arendt, the philosopher renowned for her analyses of totalitarian rule and political theory, will receive numismatic recognition.

The physicist and chemist Marie Curie, the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, will be honoured in 2032 for her groundbreaking discoveries in radioactivity.

A year later, in 2033, Bertha von Suttner, the peace activist and first female recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, will be commemorated.

In 2034, a coin will be dedicated to the “Mothers of the Grundgesetz”, the women who contributed to drafting Germany’s constitution.

Finally, in 2035, Elly Beinhorn, the aviation pioneer known for her spectacular long-distance flights, will be honoured with a commemorative coin.

Influential Women: Was the Selection Really Clever?

Is there really reason to celebrate? In many ways, yes—but a closer look at the selection of women honoured on German commemorative coins also reveals grounds for criticism. One could argue that the Federal Ministry of Finance has placed too much emphasis on traditional female roles.

Many of the women honoured so far have been artists, writers, or active in social work (e.g., Käthe Kollwitz, Marion Gräfin Dönhoff, Hildegard von Bingen, Nelly Sachs, and Elly Heuss-Knapp). This selection reinforces traditional gender stereotypes, portraying women primarily as caring, creative, or morally influential figures.

By contrast, women from male-dominated fields—such as natural sciences, technology, or business—have been significantly underrepresented.

It is also striking that women in positions of political power or decision-making have been largely overlooked. The current selection lacks female politicians who actively shaped the state and society. The planned tribute to Elisabeth Schwarzhaupt (Germany’s first female federal minister) is a step forward, but many other influential female politicians remain unrecognised, such as Helene Weber and Annemarie Renger.

To be fair, some deserving candidates like Rita Süssmuth or Angela Merkel will likely have to wait a few more years before receiving numismatic honours—due to an unwritten rule that living personalities are not depicted on coins. However, one fact remains clear: while many male statesmen and chancellors have been commemorated on coins, there is no comparable recognition for female leaders.

Where Are the Women in Business and Politics?

Beyond politics, many other areas of public life have also been neglected—for example, pioneering women in business and industry.

So far, no women from the fields of economy or industry have been honoured on German commemorative coins. Yet there are significant figures such as Melitta Bentz (inventor of the coffee filter) and Margarete Steiff (founder of Steiff Toys), whose achievements are on par with many male inventors and entrepreneurs, who regularly appear on coins.

Female athletes remain a rarity. Apart from the Women’s Football World Cup 2011 coin, there has been no direct recognition of female athletes. Prominent sportswomen such as Katarina Witt (figure skating), Birgit Fischer (canoe Olympic champion), or Steffi Graf (tennis legend) are completely absent—at the very least, the topic of sports should prompt a reconsideration of the “No numismatic honour during one’s lifetime” rule.

Similarly, female musicians and pop culture figures have been underrepresented. The planned Tamara Danz coin in 2027 is an exception, made possible mainly because the lead singer of the East German rock band “Silly” passed away in 1996, allowing enough time to justify a commemorative coin.

Of course, it would be too much to expect Nina Hagen, Ute Lemper, or Annett Louisan to be honoured in silver or even gold, but in contrast, male musicians have been selected far more frequently—especially classical composers like Bach or Beethoven.

Are There Better Alternatives? There are indeed successful international examples of more diverse selections in coin design. In the United States, the American Women Quarters Program honours women from a wide range of fields, including Maya Angelou (writer), Sally Ride (first U.S. female astronaut), and Wilma Mankiller (first female Cherokee chief).

In France, three women—Simone Veil (politician), Marie Curie (scientist), and Joséphine Baker (entertainer and resistance fighter)—were recently featured on regular circulation coins of 10, 20, and 50 cents. This means they will now be part of everyday transactions, making it a powerful statement about their legacy.

In Britain, the Royal Mint has commemorated notable women such as Florence Nightingale (nursing pioneer), Beatrix Potter (children’s author), and Rosalind Franklin (DNA researcher).

The American Women Quarters Program (AWQ) by the U.S. Mint is a particularly compelling model that Germany could take inspiration from. Launched in 2022 and running until 2025, the series releases five new quarter-dollar coins each year, honouring exceptional women from different areas of U.S. history.

Crucially, the U.S. Mint has made a conscious effort to represent women from a wide range of fields—not just traditional roles like artists or writers but also scientists, politicians, athletes, and activists. The program underscores that women have made significant contributions across all sectors of society—not just in the arts and social work.

This approach challenges outdated stereotypes and ensures that the achievements of women are recognised in a meaningful and lasting way.

The Women Quarters series is an exemplary case of inclusivity and representation. The coins are deliberately diverse, honouring women from various ethnic, social, and cultural backgrounds. African American, Indigenous, Asian American, and Latin American women are all part of the series—a conscious effort to reflect the entirety of U.S. history. This approach ensures that the series does not only celebrate well-known figures but also shines a light on women who have often been overlooked.

Coins as Storytellers

The strong storytelling employed by the U.S. Mint is an approach that would be highly beneficial in Germany. While German commemorative coins often feel like bureaucratic obligations, the U.S. Mint uses its coins as a platform to share meaningful narratives. It doesn’t just highlight who is featured on the coins—it also explains why these women are significant.

This is achieved on multiple levels: Each coin is accompanied by detailed biographies and educational resources. The U.S. Mint’s website provides extensive historical context for each honouree. Schools receive educational materials that use coins as tools for teaching history.

The visual design of these coins also carries symbolic significance. Each woman is depicted with iconic symbols or moments from her life. One example: Maya Angelou is shown with outstretched arms and a flying bird—a clear reference to her famous work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The designs feel dynamic, light, and often quite modern, making them appealing even to audiences who might not typically be interested in collector coins.

Meanwhile, the German commemorative coin series “Influential Women” is a step in the right direction. However, it could give the impression that women are only now being retrospectively included in German numismatics, rather than having been an integral part of coin design from the beginning. A more balanced representation over past decades would have been preferable to the sudden concentration of female figures in the coming years.

The Usual Suspects

Hopefully, the “Influential Women” series is just the beginning of true gender equality in the selection of themes for German commemorative coins. Whether the Federal Ministry of Finance is serious about this commitment will soon become evident in the €2 commemorative coin series “Unity, Justice, and Freedom”.

In 2026, an old familiar face will once again appear on a circulating coin: Konrad Adenauer—a choice that suggests little has changed.

After all, the issue of gender equality is nothing new—something also highlighted by International Women’s Day, which is being celebrated this week. The day has its roots in the women’s labour movement of the early 20th century. Inspired by protests for better working conditions and women’s suffrage in the United States, it was first observed in 1911 in several European countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark.

The initiative for this day came largely from German socialist Clara Zetkin, who proposed establishing an international day of action for women’s rights at the Second International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen in 1910.

Speaking of Clara Zetkin—why is the mother of International Women’s Day missing from the “Influential Women” coin series? Perhaps because she was heavily appropriated by SED propaganda, appearing not only on a commemorative coin but also on the 10-mark banknotes of the GDR.