What Was the German Currency Before the Euro?

The German currency before the euro was the Deutsche mark or German mark. One mark was divided into 100 pfennig, just as one euro is divided into 100 cents. The Deutsche mark ceased to be legal tender immediately upon the introduction of the euro, the currency of the European Union.

The “Deutschmark,” so called in English but not in German, was first issued in 1948 and served as the Federal Republic of Germany’s official currency until 1999, when the mark was replaced by the euro. German’s coins and banknotes remained in circulation, defined in terms of euros, until the introduction of euro notes and coins in early 2002.