
Third Reich Coin Project
Hello, my name is Ellis Landauer and I am a 15 year old member of the ANA and the Youth Numismatist program. I am a Jew and much of my family history lays in Germany and parts of Europe. Being that I am Jewish and of European descent, my family unfortunately had a run in with the Nazi's and their Third Reich regime. My project is to use the money I acquired from my Bar-Mitzvah a few years ago to buy Third Reich coins off of auction sites and donate them to Holocaust Museums and memorials instead of letting the coins going into the hands of Nazi sympathizers and other anti-Semites. My first and most recent set of coins I acquired was a group of 2 and 5 Reichsmark coins dating from 1935 to 1939, all years the Nazi party was in power, and all years the Jews were being discriminated against and killed from the Nuremberg laws set during late 1935. I have already messaged a few Holocaust Museums regarding loaning the coins for an exhibit. In addition, I found many coins from the German Empire, specifically 1/2 Marks, and 1 Mark coins which museums also enjoy to present because of the "life before" aspect of the coins history. Throughout the 30+ coins from my recent purchase from a police auction site, over 5 of them were rated Almost Circulated or better, which in my opinion is outstanding considering they range from 1875-1939. In addition to purchasing Nazi artifacts (specifically coins), I have also searched the internet looking for coins and artifacts from private sellers asking them to please either take down the artifacts (as to not profit from the torture of millions of people), or to send them to me so I can add it to my donation project. Not to my surprise, all of the private companies either ignored me or hung up from my calls almost immediately after mentioning donations. I just could not understand how people would want to profit from the demise of millions and the continuing suffering from anti-Semitic acts, to this day. If anybody has any sort of Nazi memorabilia of any type, or artifacts of any type in addition to Jewish artifacts from the concentration camps and ghettos(many military members who helped liberate the camps and ghettos kept photographs or memorabilia, and many people still have them today) , I would very much appreciate it if you would consider lending them to your local Holocaust Museum or Memorial or even large museums such as ones in Washington DC, New York, Germany, or even Israel. If you know of any auction sites, or private sellers that sell items that meet the criteria I mentioned, please email me at ellislandauer@gmail.com or message or call me at 786-403-8418 Thank you for reading this :)-Ellis Landauer
Comments
Big Nub Numismatics
Level 5
Welcome to the ANA, and good luck on your project.
It's Mokie
Level 6
I can't imagine many museums wanting those coins, I would just gather them up and deface each one with a grinder.
Stumpy
Level 5
Nice work. My Dad's side of the family were mostly German Jews, some came over to America in the 1800s, some just before WWII, some didn't make it out. About half of the family ended up Southern Baptist, the rest kept the faith. Made for some unusual family reunions. I wish you luck with your honorable endeavors.
Golfer
Level 5
Keep us posted. Let us know what you purchase. Nice project.
"SUN"
Level 6
Sounds like a great idea.
CoinsInHK
Level 3
Hello, My family has also had a history with the nazis. Being situated in a controversial part of France bordering Germany, there was a period of 30-35 years where the Germans had complete control, (From the 1870s to the end of WW1), and then of course the 3rd Reich. My grandmother lived in a village that was completely totaled by fighting and had to flee. After the war, my father and uncle had a certain interest in war memorabilia, and they have collected many uniforms, medals, boots, and hats from the second world war- many being of nazi origin, during their teenage years. I also have 2 coins in pretty bad conditions from the nazi regime as well. I wish you the best of luck in your adventure- Good luck. - Theodore
I. R. Bama
Level 5
This is a very sensitive area of numismatics to be sure. I guess there are both anti semites who want these coins and others who collect coins from Germany who want them as part of the history of Germanic coinage who are not antisemites as well. I admire your work and it is a worthy task you are undertaking.
Longstrider
Level 6
Great idea Ellis. I hope you do well on this quest. Welcome to the blogs and the ANA. Good luck.