Do you have an issue with coins from the Third Reich?

I collect 3rd Reich coins, or as the ignorant might term them, "Nazi coins". They are an attractive area to me for several reasons, beautiful designs, great quality standards, historically significant and a well defined number of issues that are largely free from overblown commemoratives and thousands of varieties. (the number of mintmarks is quite enough without worrying about minor variations, thank you) I also have a particular fondness for vanished regimes because I can gauge exactly how far my collection has progressed and will know exactly when it is completed. Bygone regimes have the wonderful advantage of not producing any new coins.

See my collecting interests on my profile...... Leper colony tokens, Rhodesia in it's many forms, the Third Reich, UK pre decimals..... they are gone and despite the nostalgic wishes common to bygone eras, they are not coming back. There's a definite theme to it.

I reckon the question can be fairly assumed to be directed towards those friends here who have some Jewish lineage but I can equally imagine it might apply to others, particularly our East European members. Does it bother you that I collect these coins for whatever reason?

I remember a very well respected American Numismatist, whose opinions I always enjoyed very much, quitting a coin forum because of a topic where people were posting pictures of their coins from Germany 1933 - 1945. On the other hand I asked a fellow Numista member and friend who was Jewish for his opinion and it turned out he was an avid collector also.

A time capsule was recently unearthed in Poland dating back to 1933, shortly after the NSDAP came into government. It was on the site of an old training centre for party officials in what was in 1933 part of Germany. It included many publications, photos, two paperback editions of Mein Kampf, newspapers including a pristine edition of the Volkischer Beobachter, stamps and a set of coins. The reaction of many was that it should all be destroyed, which I find remarkably sad.

I can think of at least a half dozen collectors right here on Numista who I've come to value as friends, savvy collectors or just very well versed numismatists with whom I'd simply hate to lose contact due to inadvertently offending their sensibilities. So let me ask you -

Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you?

Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog?

Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited?

Have you omitted these coins from your collection?

Do you have similar reservations about other regimes such as Zimbabwe, The Soviet Union, Ancient Rome etc?

Respectful replies from those who have given the matter some thought will be given their due respect, however any "OMG, what a Nazi" juvenile responses will be treated with the contempt they deserve. Let's be grown ups and see if we can't reach a consensus which allows for historical integrity and free thinking while simultaneously respecting the feelings of those with reservations.

No problem with it at all. I see coins as a part of history and you can learn a lot trough coins. Collecting these coins doesn't say anything about us the collectors. We can't wipe world war 2 out of history. Awful this happend, we can't forgot that. But taking these coins out of the catalog is the worst thing to do.

Mao Zedung or Stalin killed more people than Hitler and people don't complain about PRC or USSR

Great topic Phil and also very sensitive. Well, I not a jew but I would describe myself as a lover of Israel and it's people. I have a lot of jewish friends in Israel and all around the world and for sure some of them would be more sensitive when they saw a swastika even if it's depicted on a coin. I used to identify myself with these people and for some time I was reluctant to collect such coins if they wouldn't came up to me by chance. Please don't judge me to be short minded but very sensitive for the history of a nation. Last year I visited the concentration camps from Auschwitz-Birkenau, Oskar Schindler museum, and other place related to Holocaust and I was really sad that such a sick thing could happen in this world but on the other hand I thought that this should not be forgotten and the history of this event and period should be preserved even if it's painful and to avoid such things in the future. Since then I don't have any problem to search, collect or work with things related to this period and I am even more convinced that this piece of history should not be forgotten. My pain it's not to see a swastika on the coins of Third Reich but to see it on the coins/medals/tokens recently issued and I think this is disrespectful and very insensitive.

Verweis : "pnightingale"​
​A time capsule was recently unearthed in Poland dating back to 1933, shortly after the NSDAP came into government. It was on the site of an old training centre for party officials in what was in 1933 part of Germany. It included many publications, photos, two paperback editions of Mein Kampf, newspapers including a pristine edition of the Volkischer Beobachter, stamps and a set of coins. The reaction of many was that it should all be destroyed, which I find remarkably sad.
​

​I find that very sad indeed, and stupid. Destroying artifacts won't erase what happened and won't change the past. We should nor try to erase the past but acknowledge it.

I personally don't have a problem collecting 3rd Reich coins/medals , I have some myself and I am very proud of them. They enrich my collection, they have interesting designs etc.

I don't think that collecting items from any kind of dark period of history means that you are gratifying the wrongs that happened back then . I see it as a kind of fascination . Like if you could collect artifacts from a story that you hear.

Great topic as always Phill !

Verweis : "pnightingale"A time capsule was recently unearthed in Poland dating back to 1933, shortly after the NSDAP came into government. It was on the site of an old training centre for party officials in what was in 1933 part of Germany. It included many publications, photos, two paperback editions of Mein Kampf, newspapers including a pristine edition of the Volkischer Beobachter, stamps and a set of coins. The reaction of many was that it should all be destroyed, which I find remarkably sad.

Dummies they are. They're reacting with their emotions only and this is the worst thing to do. These artifacts should more be sent to a museum to, as stefandobyy said, ackowledge it. Ostracism is a crime VS History. Even when concerning our darkest history.

I have no problem with collecting Nazi, Ancient Rome or Crusader coins or coins from any similar regimes or groups, as long as they are confined to history. I will for instance not buy any coins from ISIS as they are still active and I feel that it would contribute to creating a demand for their coins, which in turn would financially benefit them.

Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you? No

Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog? No

Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited? No

Have you omitted these coins from your collection? No

Well on my mom side, my great grand father came over from Germany with his little bother in the 1890's. From a family of 12. Not Jews but they all ended up in camps. For there views on Hitler . The last living relative in Europe was smuggled out of Europe in 1948. And she with the numbers, and a kid. Let us not forget.
No I have no problem with it, and myself collect them too. Things should be in the light. I really have not gone out of my way to find. But have a lot. I have given coins to 2 teachers for history. Witch you very kindly help me . With coins . Yes I would say go right ahead. And for people who don't want to see it, don't open the post. It is a ugly part of our history.
I was not joking was I said I had family members on both side of WWI and WWII.

I've no known relative involved in this part of history, however I can't ignore it as my hometown clearly in center of this history as part of the former Reichsland Elsass-Lothringen created after the 1871 German annexation, finally taken back in 1918, and finally under a last dispute in WWII (new annexation in 1940 by Nazis, finally freed in 1944-1945... and its suburbs were host of a famous Resistance leader loss during its own deportation in 1944 too... enough symbolic to have created an hommage inside the main town train station in the last years)

Verweis : "kommodore"​Mao Zedung or Stalin killed more people than Hitler and people don't complain about PRC or USSR

​This is typically the remark that can trivialize the 50 million dead of World War II and justify the genocide of Jews, Gypsies, Russians, disabled, etc... for the new Aryan world.

We could also kill all the current migrants from Asia Minor and North Africa since Pol Pot has done with his own people and they are very little subject when Putin starves Ukraine, annexes Crimea and nibbles Georgia.

"History" is an important subject for humanity. It should not be bandied.

For example "creationism" that is spreading in United States does not make me laugh with these museums where Cro-Magnon stands next to the dinosaurs, all created less than 10,000 years

The concept "war to end all wars " WWI lasted less than 20 years but since 1944, more than 70 years, no more world war,
only
cause
we remember

Well we human do like killing each other. But after WWII as there been a year without a war some were?
are Intelligences will save us, but are pride will kill us.

"Does it bother you that I collect these coins for whatever reason?"
No, I love and coins because they show the history of the world, and Nazi Germany is part of that history.
This reminds me of a time many years ago, a friend saw I had such a coin and remarked on it, and I told him the same thing even then, and that just because you have a 3rd Reich coin doesn't mean you're a neo-Nazi.

"Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you?"
No.

"Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog?"
Of course no! They are real coins that were minted and used, they should appear in a coin catalog. Removing them would in any case not erase what happened.

"Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited?"
Hmm, I guess that would depend on the artifacts in question and the turn of the discussion.

"Have you omitted these coins from your collection?"
I don't actively collect them (I have many hard-to-reach goals before) but I have a couple of them.

"Do you have similar reservations about other regimes such as Zimbabwe, The Soviet Union, Ancient Rome etc?"

No. I would add the same caveat I've read here: I'd never get ISIS coins, even if I found them fantastically beautiful, until those guys are utterly destroyed and I'm confident that by doing so I am not funding them or supporting them in any way. So, yeah, probably not in my lifetime.

This is an interesting discussion indeed. Here in Germany, it's illegal to use the swastika or other symbols of banned Nazi organizations (SS runes, SA logo etc.) in a political context, i.e. you're not allowed to carry flags or wear uniforms with the swastika on a political rally, hang election posters with the swastika on a wall or distribute political publications in which Nazi symbols are positively referred to, to name just a few examples. It's something else of course if the swastika is clearly used in another, non-political context, e.g. as a religious symbol by a Hindu or Budddhist community, although this might lead to irritations since many people in Germany are not aware which meaning the swastika may have in other cultures. Nonetheless, you may come across swastikas in Germany every now and then: in the form of buttons, poster or stickers where the swastika is crossed out or where a person dumps a swastika into a dustbin.

As for coins, you will occasionally find German coin dealers on Ebay or elsewhere who sell coins from the Third Reich but make the swastika invisible as they believe showing swastikas is illegal. From a legal perspective, that's nonsense because selling coins is not a political activity (unless you glorify the Third Reich in some way in your marketing). From a collector's perspective, I think it's silly because when I buy a coin, I want to see what the thing I'm buying looks like (after all, someone might have tried to erase the swastika by scratching it). From a moral point of view, I don't object to anyone collecting such coins. I even collect them myself although I was brought up in the conviction that what happened between 1933 and 1945 in this country was one of the murkiest chapters in human history and must never happen again. But history is history, and coins are mute witnesses of past events. I see them as artifacts from a bygone era, nothing more. In a nutshell, as long as you do not glorify or trivialize the Nazis and their heinous deeds, I don't see anything condemnable in collecting such coins.

You could even see it this way: the Third Reich coins in your collection give testimony to the fact that Hitler's regime is a thing of the past - and the past is precisely where the nazis and their ideology belong.

If we didn't collect coins because of atrocities done by that country then there would be very few countries that we could collect.

*You can't collect New Zealand coins because they would be a reminder of the killing of thousands of Maori during the land wars.
* You can't collect Australian coins because they would be a reminder of the slaughter of thousands of Aborigine people when it was settled.
* You can't collect USA coins because they would be a reminder of the slaughter of thousands of Native Americans.
* You couldn't collect British coins because that would be a reminder of all the killings of native people during the colonial period, or the rape and pillaging of the crusades.
*Don't get me started on ancient Roman coins.

I don't actively collect Third Reich coins, but I always keep the ones that do come my way and I have about 10 or 11 of them. I find it very interesting that although Hitler was a real egotist he never put his own portrait on Germany's coins. He was on the stamps, but never the coins.

Verweis : "Spookie"​Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you? No
​
​Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog? No
​
​Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited? No
​
​Have you omitted these coins from your collection? No
​
​

​I agree with Spookie on this one and would echo his responses to all questions posed.

I don't think the fascination, interest, or remembrance is unique to coins. We have monuments, museums, movies, books, etc. because there is a demand/interest regarding what happened, as horrific as it was. I too enjoy the coins (although not an avid collector) think they are really interesting and in no way do I think having them I am condoning what happened!

There may be people that may see your collection or read your post and think otherwise, but you've opened this thread with a lot of respect for what happened and with a realization that its a very sensitive topic for some, where the travesty hits closer to home. From the responses thus far, it sounds like you're in good company.

The coins of the past belong in the collections of those who wish to collect them. I would agree that coins from current perpetrators, such as ISIS, of atrocities do not belong until the perpetrators have been dealt with. Past coins no longer finance atrocities and are important artefacts of historical events. If one does not want to collect them, fine, but do not condemn those who decide to collect them.

If we went strictly by morality we would probably collect only the coins of Bhutan, which country started the Gross National Happiness philosophy. Most, if not all, other regimes have committed ugly acts at some time in their history.

Will

Here are my 2 cents:

Does it bother you that I collect these coins for whatever reason?
- No, as long it has no political context.
Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you?
- No, as long it's about coins
Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog?
- No, never. You can't change the history.
Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited?
- Depends on the context. Purely collector's discussion - definitively not.
Have you omitted these coins from your collection?
- Partially.
Do you have similar reservations about other regimes such as Zimbabwe, The Soviet Union, Ancient Rome etc?
- Not for the listed countries, but I do actively avoid everything what has any political context in connection to today's Russia.

I'm Jewish and also have grandparents and great grandparents who survived and others who did not survive Nazi persecution during the Shoah (Holocaust). So I thought it would be good to share my answers for the four questions asked.

Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you?
No it would not, assuring that it is purely about the coins.

Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog?
No, I would see this almost like Holocaust denial which is something I take offence to. By removing the coins and censoring the history out completely is denying that the Shoah took place.

Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited?
I wouldn't prohibit discussion on artefacts as long as the people discussing are not trying to glorify or justify the actions of the Nazis.

Have you omitted these coins from your collection?
I don't actual have any in my collection but this is not deliberate. If I had some I would not remove them.

Do you have similar reservations about other regimes such as Zimbabwe, The Soviet Union, Ancient Rome etc?
I have some week feelings towards some but I feel it's irrelevant for me to bring those up. I do have some stronger feelings for another but I feel this does not need to be brought up for now.

These are just my opinions on the issue. You may find that there are others with similar backgrounds to me who may have completely different opinions.

I don't have any issue with collecting them. I just have a problem with identifying them as "beautiful designs." There are many beautiful German coins, but they are from the 16th-19th centuries.

and there are also highly collectible tokens ...

As far as I'm concerned, I would prefer collecting German States or notgelds (they're nicer, aren't they?), yet still I have no issues with coins from the third Reich.

Not at all. Personally I find WW1 & WW2 very interesting and have a lot of other items, not just coins, from that time in my collection.

The only reason I can see some people having a problem with WW2 artifacts is the fact that it was a recent war and wounds are still fresh however there wasn't a war in history where atrocities weren't committed. WW2 items are a part of history and should be viewed in that way, ignoring or banning history will only lead to it repeating itself.

I collect third reich coins purely from the perspective that I collect any country's coinage from 1900 to date. If I went about taking the moral high ground, not to collect so and so coins, where does it end? Canadian and US coins can be seen as oppressing native american/inuit/african etc and british/french coinage until the 1970's as a reminder of all the brutal aspects of imperialism. And yet all these coins come from countries which are supposedly beacons of democracy, freedom and enlightened thinking (which in itself i think is self-aggrandizement).

What about not collecting certain of your own country's coins? There are definitely coins from certain eastern european countries which commemorate alleged collaborators. So would people from those countries start picking and choosing what is acceptable? I imagine that's possible, but it would probably also be a constant mess and or dilemma!

Verweis : "Spookie"​I have no problem with collecting Nazi, Ancient Rome or Crusader coins or coins from any similar regimes or groups, as long as they are confined to history. I will for instance not buy any coins from ISIS as they are still active and I feel that it would contribute to creating a demand for their coins, which in turn would financially benefit them.
​
​Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you? No
​
​Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog? No
​
​Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited? No
​
​Have you omitted these coins from your collection? No
​
​

​I agree totally with spookie. And yet...at a car boot sale recently I bought a small bag of world coins and came across a small dirty 10 Reichspfennig of 1941. When I saw the swastika I shivered. It isn't yet ancient history.

Nearly any coin from history can be seen as object funding opression of someone else. It is just history. I find disgusting wearing some insignia of such times, or even promoting them, but collection? That is ok.

And I say that as a historian myself. If we cannot accept the past, we are not fit to live the future.

Yes, I have them. No, I don't have any issues with them.

If someone does have an issue and chooses to leave a forum because of it, well.. that's their right and their choice. As long as they don't try to force their choice on me, I've no issue with their decision, either.

My recent acquisition should answer this question and NO , I am not a Nazi sympathizer :

Germany, Third Reich: Anonymous (1938) AE Medal (Colbert/Hyder C106)

Obv: Head of Adolf Hitler facing right
Rev: Three line German Legend - ZUR ERINNERUNG AN DIE HEIMKEHR INS REICH (In Remembrance of Homecoming to the Reich; To commemorate the return [of Austria] to the Reich)




In regards to other "politically incorrect" items, here is another recent acquisition that OP would enjoy:

Confederate States of America: $10 Chemicograph Back Intended for 1864 Confederate Currency

Originally issued as a set of "notes" that consisted of six Chemicograph backs with designs that were intended for the 1864 issues of the $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, and $500 denominations. Back plates with these designs were ordered by the Confederate Treasury from S. Straker & Sons of London. The plates were made and shipped from London in early January 1864, only to disappear. Several more shipments were made, but none of these got through the Union blockade. Examples of the plates were found 75 years later and were donated to the Smithsonian Institution.

None. Being of Dutch-German-Jew descent I heard many stories of WW2 while growing up. Now at 70 I find they sparked a love of history for that time. I collect mainly from 2 areas-modern US coins and WW2 world coins. I have many "Nazi" coins as well as coins from occupied countries. I don't concern myself with any of the political Iidiocy- as was stated in an earlier comment- it belongs in the past. I LIKE the 3rd Reich coins. I LIKE the coins from Vichy France. I think about how fortunate I am that I've never had war on my doorstep.. So, my answer is none. No problems with any collectable from the WW2 era.

It seems that at least some people who actively collect 3rd Reich coins really sympathize with Nazi ideology. This is just a personal impression from what I see in a coin collectors' forum that exists in my country (Lithuania).

I avoid collecting such coins, just because the Nazi symbolism triggers very negative psychological associations for me.

By comparison, the coins of the Soviet regime from the late phase of occupation are simply artefacts from my childhood. I don't have any reservations about them, they are just boring.

Of course everything should exist in catalogues, museums and history books.

As for the question whether to collect such things: you can collect anything, but wouldn't it be better to collect coins that evoke warm feelings? For example 5 Markkaa from Finland: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces7379.html

I don't have an issue collecting coins from immoral regimes from the past. The symbolism is a part of history and together with other historical records vital to understand the social mechanisms that lead to ethnic tensions and genocide.

Genocides are part of human history but the Holocaust was committed by a civilisation that at that time had also achieved great cultural and scientific advances. Apart from a democratic tradition of governance which was lacking in Germany the country's society was quite alike any of the modern Western nations. But a history of scapegoating, economic headwinds, a lost war, damaged pride and simply fear to divert from the masses all contributed to a mass hysteria of which so many became victims.

One can even see some of the same mechanisms all around the world now, although the world is much more intertwined than ever before.

In East Europe and Balkans the truth is that exist a lot of issues.
Few people collect for different reasons each.One of them is me.
People says that you are fasist or your grandfather work with Nazis and many others that you do not imagine.
Personally i do not give a dime as you say in America.
Fortunately is not prohibit as ancient greek coins which need special permission.
My only issue is that i cannot find 5-10 Reichspfennig(Military coinage)1940-1941.
Fantastic zinc coins with hole in the center.

Verweis : "5element"My only issue is that i cannot find 5-10 Reichspfennig(Military coinage)1940-1941.
​Fantastic zinc coins with hole in the center.

​They are not rare and hence you should be able to find them somewhat easily on ebay and other online coin vendors. However, there are some rare and quite expensive mints in that series. Don't seem to have a readily available pic of my 5 Reichspfenning, but here is my 10 Reichspfenning:

Germany, Third Reich: 1940A 10 Reichspfenning, Military Occupation Coinage (KM#99)

Obv: Large swastika pierced by center hole, date below
Rev: Eagle head above center hole, denomination below

I see all Nazi era coins the same way I see photographs of the same era, they are reminders of a past historic event that should never be repeated. (Even though actions in Syria is making a name for itself in the human atrocities history book.)

It is about the associated history around an object and not the misconception the coins actually have any kind of real symbolising meaning in today's society. They are just reminders, not representation.

I have no problems collecting coins from any area of numismatics. I am not politically minded, so collect coins from any country, irrespective of history.
If we took the stance against any country that had any involvement in any type of political problems within a country, we would not collect any coins from any country.
America and Great Britain would be banned because of their involvement in slavery, and there are many other countries with unrest within their own country, where people have been persecuted for just being there.
Nazism was certainly the largest crime of that type, but it has happened in many countries since and reading the news regularly, it is still happening today, in what is called a civilised world.
Yes, I have Nazi coins but that does not mean I think or act like a Nazi.
If collector want to collect those coins, then they should be free to do so. If a coin was being sold to aid a terrorist group, then I would not dare buy it, and hopefully, no one else would either.
Lets keep politics out of numismatics.

Verweis : "Spookie"...................
​
​Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you? No
​
​Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog? No
​
​Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited? No
​
​Have you omitted these coins from your collection? No
​
​

​My short answers are the same.

I don't search after "Nazi-Coins", but if they come to me, i keep them and put them in my collection.
These coins represent the 12 darkest years in German history (and in the history of many other countries).

But i do not sort only the "Swastica-Coins" together, i sort them into the Line of German coins from 1923 (The birth of the Rentenmark / Reichsmark) to 1948 (The End of this monetary era).

Let me show an example with the 10 Pfennig coins:

Here i see the Rentenmark which brought monetary stability after the horrible time of inflation (1,000,000,000,000 Mark became 1 Rentenmark and stabilized) (5 years after the birth of the "Weimarer Republik" and 10 years befor the "Machtergreifung" of Hitler)


Then, 1924, the currency were renamed to Reichsmark.


Then, 1936, 3 years after Hitler gained total power (Machtergreifung 1933), the design of the most German coins were changed and the swastica is part of most of them.


1940 the Zinc-Coins came because of the war.


Finally, at the end of the war in Germany, the allies took charge and the swastica was removed from the coin-design. Germany was destroyed and German Money nearly worthless. The main "currency" were cigarettes.

The Reichsmark ended 1948


I list all my coins in HTML-Documents. To get to all my German Lists, I made an overview:

I make the dividing lines at the currency changes not at the political changes.


But what do i feel, by watching a coin of the Nazi-time?
I feel sad because of all the horror of this time.
I connect Nazi-Symbols with Megalomania, Death, Hate, Destruction, Fear, Evil and many other negative things.
I am a German, so i feel guilt too. I am 40 years old and had nothing to do with this Murders. But i feel the responsibility of my nation. I am part of Germany and the German History is part of me. I accept that. The next KZ to me is near "Dachau". Dachau is a small town near Munich. It was one of the first of its kind and nearly all students here visit this place as part of the History education during their school time to see with their own eyes what "Nazi-Terror" was.
We killed and exiled a part of our people. The Jews which were killed during this time were Germans too. The German Jewish men took part of the WWI in the German Army like the not Jewish Germans too. Women lost their Husbands and Men their Wifes because one of them were Jew. Families were thrown apart and the German nation ripped out an important part of its own body and a huge part of its soul. And not only Jews were killed. All people who didn't fit into the interests of the Nazi-Regime were killed.
And we killed millions of people from many other nations and destroyed big parts of Europe.

It is difficult for me to feel "proud" to be a German.
But i like it to be a German, because at the end Germany and German history is much, much more then Hitler, WWII, Holocaust, Nazis and Evil.

On the other hand Coins of this time are interesting in many ways.
The early ones (1933-1939) are made of good material and some of them have a beautiful design.
The 5 Mark Hindenburg or the 2 Mark are nice pieces of silver. And there are the "B" mintmarks on the coins which were made in Vienna (Austria) after the "Anschluss".

After WWII Austria went its own way again and reestablished its own Schilling-currency.
Because of the lack of material they used 5 and 10 Reichspfennig Zinc coins to produce their early 5 and 10 Groschen coins. They just put the Nazi coins into the coin presses.
On some of the 1947-1950 coins you can see parts of the designs of the coins they used.

The 1 Reichspfennig were demonetizised in Austria 2002 with the start of the Euro cash era.
They were (theoretical) used as 1 Groschen.
But during my Austria-visits i never got a coin from circulation smaller than 10 Groschen.

Verweis : "druzhynets"​As far as I'm concerned, I would prefer collecting German States or notgelds (they're nicer, aren't they?), yet still I have no issues with coins from the third Reich.

​Similarly, I've no problem with 3rd Reich coins, but prefer earlier commemoratives (in my case, not the German States or Imperial Germany) from the 'Weimarer Republik'- IMO this was the best Germany I can imagine- a peaceful democratic nation with economic prosperity and easy living prevalent in it's society (at least in the 1924-29 period anyway).

Verweis : "neilithic"​If we didn't collect coins because of atrocities done by that country then there would be very few countries that we could collect.
​
​*You can't collect New Zealand coins because they would be a reminder of the killing of thousands of Maori during the land wars.
​* You can't collect Australian coins because they would be a reminder of the slaughter of thousands of Aborigine people when it was settled.
​* You can't collect USA coins because they would be a reminder of the slaughter of thousands of Native Americans.
​* You couldn't collect British coins because that would be a reminder of all the killings of native people during the colonial period, or the rape and pillaging of the crusades.
​*Don't get me started on ancient Roman coins.
​
​I don't actively collect Third Reich coins, but I always keep the ones that do come my way and I have about 10 or 11 of them. I find it very interesting that although Hitler was a real egotist he never put his own portrait on Germany's coins. He was on the stamps, but never the coins.

​Great points, Neil. There would be a real limit on which coins one could collect if they wished to avoid any nations with 'spotty' histories. In fact - like you mentioned about the British colonial coins - I wouldn't have much of a collection at all if I avoided countries with histories that involved slaughter/conquest/usurpation.

I'm in the same boat when it comes to collecting Third Reich coins as well. I don't actively seek them, but usually keep the ones I get in bulk or other lots. As atrocious and deplorable as it was, the history of the Third Reich is also incredibly fascinating.

That, in the mid-20th century, one nation (or one man controlling a nation) decides to try to take over the world is both insane and very interesting. There hadn't been a country (or just a leader, again) who had attempted that with much success since Napoleon's Empire about 150 years prior.

Also, Hitler not having his face portrayed on a coin during his reign is an enigma to me. Of all the rulers in all the world of all time, if there were one man whom I'd expect to emblazon his likeness on anything he could, it would be Hitler.

PS - I'm Jewish myself, my ancestors left Poland in 1855 and came to America. They actually hid their Judaism and the family had no idea of our Jewish heritage until my grandmother died at 93 and we found an entire set of white and blue fine China engraved with stars of David and my great-great-great grandparents initials.

Verweis : "jokinen"​I don't have an issue collecting coins from immoral regimes from the past.

​Western hypocrisy, cynicism and lie level is through the roof!
What about finnish coins? And any period

Since the massacre of Vyborg 1918.

20 thousand victims in the concentration camps in 1918 after winning the White Finns

Or to remind about the atrocities of the finns in the war 1918-1922, when the question of the English correspondent why mass shootings are in Olonets, finnish commander replied that "the land is sandy, soft and easy to dig a grave"

Finnish camps for displaced persons 1941-1944


About 40% of the people remaining in the occupied territory of the Finns were herded into concentration camps. In total extermination of the civilian population in the occupied territories of the small Finnish people at times surpassed the deeds and Nazi Germany and Japan.
In the camp we were herded people are basically one capacity - not Finno-Ugric ethnic origin, - Russian. There were almost all former Russian occupation in Finland.

About a 1/3 of people in the camp prisoners were killed. Of these, the majority (90%) died in 1942.
The defeat at Stalingrad in early 1943, forced the Finns to revise the policy of genocide, apparently postponed until better times. Prior to this mortality in Finnish concentration camps much higher than the mortality in Germany.

The participation of the army of Finland in the siege of Leningrad
1 million (!) dead, more than 600 thousand deaths from starvation of civilians!
That the Germans are to blame? Of course!:
September 11, 1941 Finnish President Ryti said German Minister in Helsinki the following: "Leningrad must be eliminated as a major city"
September 26, 1941; Telegram Finnish Ambassador in Germany to Minister of Foreign Affairs - "Finland should officially declare publicly that St. Petersburg should be destroyed."


About symbols of the Third Reich


Finnish swastika - sister of swastika Nazi Germany
(do not just tell stories, that is an ancient Finnish symbol, blue, not black, straight, not at an angle, bla-bla...That Nazi, as it appeared in Finland it is from the moment when one of Sweden's Nazi leaders, Count von Rosen (a close relative of Hering, by the way) gave the White Finnish army 2 aircraft on which this is an image of the swastika has been applied.)

And descendants are in debt:

Finnish Air Force Academy flag


Presidentti Kekkonen vihkii Ilmavoimien liput 4.6.1958


Presidentti Halonen vastaanottaa 4.10.2005

/You can add this to the Finland Coin Chat, in place before as the "evil Stalin attacked the defenseless little Finland"?/

Stalin attacked Finland because Soviet/Russian leadership usually have problems with other nations not feeling very fine under their feet and not recognizing freedom of others. Either way you are suggesting that Finland was attacked as rightful retribution? Like blood for blood? Interesting eastern tradition. I guess you will have hard time understanding why other states choose to rather go away from Russia. But you will get there once, I hope.

On topic:

Questions about Nazi symbols should be defined primarily descendants of those who made the greatest sacrifice by destroying the brown plague - the Great Russian People and other peoples of the Soviet Union!

And the Federal Law of the Russian Federation states: punishable by a fine public demonstration and marketing paraphernalia or symbols of extremist organizations that collaborated with the Nazis, or do not recognize the verdict of the Nuremberg Tribunal. Maximum amount - 100 thousand rubles.
Or administrative arrest for up to 15 days.

Verweis : "7doktor"​
​And the Federal Law of the Russian Federation states: punishable by a fine public demonstration and marketing paraphernalia or symbols of extremist organizations that collaborated with the Nazis,

​The Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact would seem to make symbols of the Stalinist era fall into this category. How does the current Russian government reconcile this apparent inconsistency?

Verweis : "pnightingale"​

Verweis : "7doktor"​
​​And the Federal Law of the Russian Federation states: punishable by a fine public demonstration and marketing paraphernalia or symbols of extremist organizations that collaborated with the Nazis,
​
​

​​The Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact would seem to make symbols of the Stalinist era fall into this category. How does the current Russian government reconcile this apparent inconsistency?

​From my experience, either elaborate material will be published, "explaining" how the war started only in 1941, or you will be labeled as fool, or consumer of western propaganda. I have seen enough of this. Always the same 4 Ds used all over again:

"Dismiss”
“Distort,”
“Distract”
“Dismay”

This is an interesting topic, and I'm really glad to see so many well thought out replies. Not that I expected a rabble from this group.

I have no Jewish or German ancestry that I know of, and definitely no family who were involved in any way, not in the war at all, but I am a historian who believes that we shouldn't cover things up. If we hid from the past, or destroyed all evidence of it, we dishonour the victims and we risk repeating it. I've studied WWII and the Holocaust in some depth and I see it as my job (and honour) to preserve the past.

Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you?
Not at all, as long as it's handled the right way by all parties.

Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog?
Absolutely not, on so many levels.

Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited?
Not at all, as long as it's handled the right way by all parties.

Have you omitted these coins from your collection?
I have not.

I do treat them differently than I do coins from other major points in our history, such as Ancient Rome, because as someone else pointed out, this is not ancient history. It's more fresh than I think most people realise.
I got my four Third Reich coins, complete with swastikas, in a sort of grab bag lot of coins. Like Bitteswell I did feel the weight of it the first time I held one. When I hold a coin I imagine the potential life of the coin, and these definitely feel different than most of the others. But that weight is all the more reason for us to, as someone else said, keep it in the light.

Not atall..

i find it ignorant that so many people view Germans as evil which is ridiuclous, from my experiences with Germans (my brother in law being one) they're fantastic people, what a historic era in that countries time I have a 3rd Reich coin somewhere I don't collect them but I won't sell it because I really like the eagle standing on the swastika !

how could someone who collects the British empire dare call anyone who collects 3rd Reich !

Verweis : "Mark240590"​Not atall..
​
​i find it ignorant that so many people view Germans as evil which is ridiuclous, from my experiences with Germans (my brother in law being one) they're fantastic people, what a historic era in that countries time I have a 3rd Reich coin somewhere I don't collect them but I won't sell it because I really like the eagle standing on the swastika !
​
​how could someone who collects the British empire dare call anyone who collects 3rd Reich !

​I would love to start collecting Bohemian denars. I would not dare to call anyone, as they have been selling people to slavery pretty often, not only enemies, but their own (including Christians) too!
Yep, those are my ancestors. Slavers!

To move a litle from such far events, my grandfather worked in German labor camp, as a Czech, while another great-grandfather fought within Wehrmacht, as an Austrian (he deserted too). So, I am not realy calling out anyone here.

Verweis : "pnightingale"​​The Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact would seem to make symbols of the Stalinist era fall into this category. How does the current Russian government reconcile this apparent inconsistency?

​Before moving Overton Window (that the author of the topic trying to do, as the answers to questions in start post obvious to any numismatist), should read at least a school history textbook, where black on white written, when and who has concluded a contract and agreements with Hitlers:

1933 Pact of Four (Italy, Germany, Britain, France)
1934 Pact Pilsudski-Hitler (Germany, Poland)
1935 Anglo-German Naval Agreement
1936 Anti-Comintern Pact (Germany, Japan)
1938 Munich collusion (Britain, France, Germany, Italy)
1938 Non-Aggression Pact (Germany, Britain)
1938 Non-Aggression Pact (Germany, France)
1939 German-Romanian economic treaties and agreements
1939 Non-Aggression Pact (Germany, Lithuania)
1939 Treaty of Friendship (Germany, Italy)
1939 Non-Aggression Pact (Germany, Estonia)
1939 Non-Aggression Pact (Germany, Latvia)
1939 Non-Aggression Pact (Germany, USSR)

but all repeat about bloodthirsty Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

Due to the conclusion of this treaty the Soviet Union:
- Regained the territory, previously owned by the Russian Empire, thus extending its limits. From a geopolitical point of view, the expansion of the territory was considered one of the main goals of any state
- Delayed by two years the beginning of the war and eliminated the threat of war on two fronts, thanks to a deterioration of German-Japanese relations
- Prevent the creation of a hostile coalition of Germany, Britain and France

Hands with Hitler greeted the leaders of Poland, the UK and France, set on him against the Soviet Union.
But no Joseph Stalin.
He sent Adolf to hell. Together with the majority of the Nazi bastards.
Pity that not all. The descendants of the survivors still feel phantom pain.

Besides those historical garbage, which I would have refuted in like 10 minutes talk, Stalin has cried in his dacha on the day of Invasion, because his lovely friend Hitler backstabbed him. But you do not get these in your textbooks... only delayed the war by two years, by participating on it... I am sick of these twisted views.

Classic human behaviour, twist things when telling your own people so they get behind you, Propaganda from all sides.

It doesn't matter who did what and when, it matters that anything like it is never repeated again. I think I can say with confidence that there will be another serious war situation in the future. The human race doesn't know how to get along for a greater purpose, our nature is to dominate and become the alpha. There is no escape from that natural desire, it is written in all animal DNA.

Lets make sure we stick to SHARING opinions and not fighting about who is more accurate with "what happened in WW2". My grandfather was in the war from April 1945, 2 months later he was on the beach watching his friends drop all around him before he took either shrapnel or a round to the head. He somehow survived and came home but he only lasted a few years after a brain tumour from the injury killed him.

Everyone is to blame for WW2, all countries sent their men and women to their deaths. Objects from that era are just objects, they play no part in what happened and only serve to give the rest of the world a glimpse of something from that era, just like all other artefacts from a blood stained past event.

Well, I asked for opinions and our Stalinist friend gave his in a comprehensive and informative manner. As long as it doesn't reach a hysterical fever pitch that results in such a promising thread being deleted I hope the dissenting opinions keep on coming. I pretty much entirely disagree with his conclusions but it's important to acknowledge that other points of view exist.

Some years there was a discussion about the historical significance of the Hakenkreuz (Swastika) which was really quite interesting (did you know it was used by the US flying corps during WWI and as the unit insignia of a US infantry division, imagine how that would have complicated WWII battles!!). After several pages of quite interesting exchanges of often previously unknown incarnations of the symbol and some equally interesting background information a couple of SJW types decided to play the "NAZI!!!!" card and what was a stimulating and thought provoking discussion turned into a distasteful farce. It's a good indication of how the quality and maturity of the Numista forum has improved that we can now have a sensible discussion about our shared past without turning it into a three rings circus.

Well done everybody, including the dissenters.

The idea behind it all is to quite simply try to work out some sensible boundaries which will allow for the free discussion of a very significant period in both numismatics and philately without offending those members who have deep concerns about the other facets of the period 1933 - 1945.

Losing members due to an unintentional offense seems to me to be infinitely less preferable than free and open discussions. We have members of all backgrounds and political stripes so it's important to understand that we are discussing the history and the relics of the period, not it's very convoluted politics.

Feels good to be back in the lull atmosphere doesn't it?

To me these are historical items. It is history, it happened and there is no need to be offended. I didn't do it, no one did anything to me. Unless you were there, don't be offended by it. It is like being offended by Genghis Khan, or by the Romans. I also collect Roman coins and I am not offended by the systematic killing of Christians. Again, I wasn't there, I didn't do it and no one did anything to me. It is just history, it did happen and relics were left behind. I don't understand why people get all bent out of shape about this...

Cheers

pnightingale, Very very inserting topic.

I am Jewish.

My mothers side of the family (7 of her half siblings from fathers first marriage and her fathers first wife) was shot and killed in front of my grandfather in Hungary when the Nazis arrived to their village later on in WWII. The most horrific part was that they held his eyes open and forced him to watch.... He died about 6 years ago at the age of 102. After the war he remarried to my grandmother who lost her husband and newborn child during the war. He very rarely spoke about what happened "over there" - it was way too much for him. My grandmother would tell my mom that sometimes at night he would whisper the names of his children and say something to the effect of how he is sorry for standing by while they got shot..... How crazy and sad for him to live with that guilt. When he turned about 100 his mind started going on him and he would ask his caretaker to walk with him to a nearby park/playground. He would then ask around if anyone has seen his children (the deceased kids) asking for them by name. He would get frantic that he could not find them and would literally break down crying in the park. Before he died he told my grandmother about a box in the attic that had photos of his family. He asked that his "NEW" children make copies and keep them to preserve their memory. He died at age 102.

On my fathers side - literally 80% of the family (including grandparents from mothers side, uncles, aunts, cousins) got killed in Lodz Poland. A great uncle survived by joining a partisan group. It was thought that he perished but it later turned out that he survived. My fathers sister help smuggle their immediate family out From poland with the help of some of the many many poles who risked their lives for STRANGERS via Portugal to spain to cuba and on to the USA.

The Third reich and the nazis really put a dent in my family and my heart as well as to many other families. Jewish & non-jewish alike.

HOWEVER,

My strong belief is that HISTORY MUST BE PRESERVED!
Including nazi:
- Symbols
- Books & Films
- Coins
- Uniforms
- Weapons
etc...

Why? Since it is the only way history will be remembered. There is a saying in hebrew "zichor v'all tiskach" which roughly translated to "Remember and don't forget". Remember the loved ones that perished and dont forget how and why it happened.

If we destroy history it will repeat itself.

So, to answer your questions:

Does it bother you that I collect these coins for whatever reason?
- It does not. I just really hope its not to glorify the reich.

Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you?
- Not at all. But just make sure it stays about coins..... :)

Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog?
- Absolutely not. It belongs in the catalog.

Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited?
- I dont think so.

Have you omitted these coins from your collection?
- I do not collect these and dont plan to ever collect them due to the pain associated with my family and the reich. However I have 4 coins from the nazis that I keep in my album of my British Mandate Palestine / Israel coins. I have them there to be a part of keeping history true and alive and to show that we persevered and rebuilt ourselves strong. The testament to that is the beautiful coinage from the State of Israel.
On the page that hold those 4 coins I have a printed Message that says "זכור ואל תשכח" / "Remember and Do Not Forget".

I do however understand those who feel that they cannot collect these coins for whatever reason. But its a personal understanding and not something I think everybody feels the same about.

Your truly,
Aaron

Verweis : "pnightingale"​Well, I asked for opinions and our Stalinist friend gave his in a comprehensive and informative manner. As long as it doesn't reach a hysterical fever pitch that results in such a promising thread being deleted I hope the dissenting opinions keep on coming. I pretty much entirely disagree with his conclusions but it's important to acknowledge that other points of view exist.
​
​Some years there was a discussion about the historical significance of the Hakenkreuz (Swastika) which was really quite interesting (did you know it was used by the US flying corps during WWI and as the unit insignia of a US infantry division, imagine how that would have complicated WWII battles!!). After several pages of quite interesting exchanges of often previously unknown incarnations of the symbol and some equally interesting background information a couple of SJW types decided to play the "NAZI!!!!" card and what was a stimulating and thought provoking discussion turned into a distasteful farce. It's a good indication of how the quality and maturity of the Numista forum has improved that we can now have a sensible discussion about our shared past without turning it into a three rings circus.
​
​Well done everybody, including the dissenters.
​
​The idea behind it all is to quite simply try to work out some sensible boundaries which will allow for the free discussion of a very significant period in both numismatics and philately without offending those members who have deep concerns about the other facets of the period 1933 - 1945.
​
​Losing members due to an unintentional offense seems to me to be infinitely less preferable than free and open discussions. We have members of all backgrounds and political stripes so it's important to understand that we are discussing the history and the relics of the period, not it's very convoluted politics.

​Just to let you know,Phil, 45 infantry division had swastika patch changed at 05/22/39

I am, and always have been, extremely interested in Nazi items for a purely collectible reason. Anything German, actually. I have traced my heritage back to Germany and it would be hard to try to deny the fact some of my relatives were a part of it. It is history, after all. There's no changing it now.


But more to the point, I try to find Nazi coins, patches, and paper currency. It is all just a part of my collection now of over 300 coins. (small, I know.)


Does it bother you that I collect these coins for whatever reason?
- Nope, it does not.

Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you?
- No, but like other members have said, keep it coin related. The politics and what not have homes elsewhere on the web.

Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog?
-No. They were / are all valuable to someone at some point.

Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited?
- No, but this is a coin collecting website. No need for other war relics to be discussed, they have their own place on the internet.

Have you omitted these coins from your collection? Quite the opposite, actually.

It doesn't bother me, but I don't collect the coins because I already have chosen which coins I want to collect.

Interesting thread. I often see coins on eBay with the swastika edited out of the picture. C'mon everyone, this is the 21st century. Time to accept that "it" happened, and the coins are collectable. We need to stop being so precious. World War II is over.

In Germany you can be persecuted by law if you don‘t hide or blackout the swastika.

eBay has had the rules for the removal of the swastica for many years? I understand their stance, but from a coin collectors point of view, I do not agree with it.
They are listed in many catalogues, who do not view them as political propaganda items, and so I believe that no one should feel guily it they collect then.
If people do have a problem collecting them, then I would back you for your reason/principals 100%.
They were not created for political or financial gain, so I will continue to collect them, although they seem to be rarer.

Verweis : "Kipsley"​Interesting thread. I often see coins on eBay with the swastika edited out of the picture. C'mon everyone, this is the 21st century. Time to accept that "it" happened, and the coins are collectable. We need to stop being so precious. World War II is over.

​wwii may be over for you. However, for those whose families got annihilated by the nazis it never will be over. I don't think we are being "so precious". I do think a bit of sensitivity in comments can go a long way.

Verweis : "aaronmgd"​

Verweis : "Kipsley"​Interesting thread. I often see coins on eBay with the swastika edited out of the picture. C'mon everyone, this is the 21st century. Time to accept that "it" happened, and the coins are collectable. We need to stop being so precious. World War II is over.

​​wwii may be over for you. However, for those whose families got annihilated by the nazis it never will be over. I don't think we are being "so precious". I do think a bit of sensitivity in comments can go a long way.

​I sympathise with both your PoVs; I think swastika blotting out on numismatic items is a bit unnecessary; after all as long as we can differentiate between acknowledging the past and (undeservedly) glorifying it, coming to terms with and being honest to ourselves about what happened then is not a bad thing.

But I can definitely understand those who still feel strongly about the presence of swastika imagery, though.

Cass,
i don't have an issue with swastika on coins and I don't think blurring them out is necessary (read my earlier post a while back in this topic). I was referring to the way kipsley seemed to downplay the pain some may feel all these years later.
Aaron

Verweis : "aaronmgd"​i don't have an issue with swastika on coins and I don't think blurring them out is necessary (read my earlier post a while back in this topic). I was referring to the way kipsley seemed to downplay the pain some may feel all these years later.
​Aaron

​I know, that was just my two centesimi on the topic.

They are innocent pieces of metal. They have never killed anyone.

I collect them as well. So no it doesn't bother me at all. I also collect paper money as well from then. All have swastikas on them. I'm German. My family came here during the war. It's part of my heritage.

Verweis : "CassTaylor"​

Verweis : "aaronmgd"​
​

Verweis : "Kipsley"​Interesting thread. I often see coins on eBay with the swastika edited out of the picture. C'mon everyone, this is the 21st century. Time to accept that "it" happened, and the coins are collectable. We need to stop being so precious. World War II is over.

​​​wwii may be over for you. However, for those whose families got annihilated by the nazis it never will be over. I don't think we are being "so precious". I do think a bit of sensitivity in comments can go a long way.

​​I sympathise with both your PoVs; I think swastika blotting out on numismatic items is a bit unnecessary; after all as long as we can differentiate between acknowledging the past and (undeservedly) glorifying it, coming to terms with and being honest to ourselves about what happened then is not a bad thing.
​
​But I can definitely understand those who still feel strongly about the presence of swastika imagery, though.

​The Swastika is still very much an active symbol of hate in some countries. It's certainly not in the past. eBay's rules are as much, or more, about sensitivity to current events than past ones, and about avoiding the facilitation of hate.

And putting that aside, World War II itself is still within living memory. We can't assume that the world has moved on and it's not right for anyone to impose a time limit on getting over it. Yes. It did happen. And that's why we should treat it with a little respect.

Verweis : "Kipsley"​Interesting thread. I often see coins on eBay with the swastika edited out of the picture. C'mon everyone, this is the 21st century. Time to accept that "it" happened, and the coins are collectable. We need to stop being so precious. World War II is over.

​
Pretty disgusting post, especially as you dragged up a 2 year thread to say it.

I wasnt around numista at the time of the discussion, but I agree its not offensive in any way to discuss/collect/enjoy Nazi coinage. Interesting history.

I do agree with Steve that they are pretty boring coins compared to a lot of the other German issues though [aesthetically]

I also understand why the laws in Germany are the way they are, and given the consistent and unexplainable rise of anti semitism since WWII, they obviously still have a place.

Well I really did not mean to offend anyone, and so I do apologies to Gabrial if I came across as being insensitive. I guess it was very well said by someone here that we should be able to talk about the coins without bringing in the politics that may have been behind them at the time of issue.

My main reason for "dredging up this two year old" thread was that when I read it I was baffled at first by the question: "Are you offended by Third Reich coins?". I'm just not as eloquent as some with the written word and I agree I could have posted better. I guess my first thoughts upon this subject where that I am not offended by these coins, nor am I offended by Japanese coins, Roman coins, Turkish coins, Soviet Union coins. I just wondered why Third Reich coins were seemingly singled out. However, upon reflection and reading some of the new posts here I think I can see why. I did not know eBay had rules regarding the swastika symbol. I also did not know that Germany had rules with regards the swastika. And though I am not Jewish I am British and lost quite a few relatives in the War given many were in the Navy. My Dad was in the British Army and I also have a military background. Time and again have I looked up at our Australian flag with the Union Jack in the corner knowing just how close we came to that flag being replaced by a white one with a red spot in the middle.

And so I apologize if my writing was too blunt or perhaps not well thought out. As I said, I'm pretty crappy with words sometimes. But I do strongly agree... We should be able to chat as much as we like about any coin whilst still leaving out the politics. This is a coin site after all.

My grandfather was in the Army that time too (East Africa).
Human nature is evil. Anyone, every historical era.
Coins are just coins, and the study of history through them let us understand who we are.

Verweis : "pnightingale"So let me ask you -
​
​Would a forum topic regarding Third Reich coins bother you?
​
​Would you wish to see such coins removed from the catalog?
​
​Should the discussion of Third Reich artifacts be prohibited?
​
​Have you omitted these coins from your collection?

1) No.

2) No.

3) No.

4) No.

Rewriting history is never good.
I look at the Swastika on these coins with revulsion, I look at the coin in hand with awe, as a piece of history more unique and precious than almost any other. The symbol and the maker are not why I collect coins (a similar argument can be extended to modern NCLT) I find my interest in the history of what the coin has seen.
We do not know if an individual coin went through the hands of Himmler, or Schindler, but to me even if it had, that doesn't matter, to me the coin represents History, with a capital H, and that is neither good nor bad it simply "is".

Slightly cynically, to answer the question, "why the Third Reich specifically?", because contrarily to the soviet purges, or other horrifying periods of history, 1) it is temporally close, 2) It is Europe, 3) We did something about it, after coming very close to falling in line with the fascists ourselves. 4) The symbol is still used by (*****)'s to brag and inflame passions today. 5) We branded them the enemy in practically every media genre, from comic books, to comedies, to horror.
I am not a conspiracy nut, but to use the example of the world's most innocuous nation, Canada, look up "Adrien Arcand".