Germany. 50th Anniversary of the International Year of Women Launches New Silver Coin Series

The first design in this new 20 euro silver coin series entitled ‘Minting Women’ honours the lifetime achievements of female German personalities which will run until 2035.

The initial coin marks the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations declaration of the International Year of Women. By doing so in 1975, the UN General Assembly wanted to raise awareness of the situation of women worldwide and encourage governments to take measures to promote equality. During the year, many events, conferences, seminars and demonstrations were organised, bringing together tens of thousands of women worldwide. They discussed relevant topics such as reproductive rights, education, discrimination in the workplace and political participation. This was preceded by a broad global movement for women's rights and equality in the 1960’s and 1970’s, primarily in the West. As a result of this heightened activity, international women's organisations took the initiative in many developing counties and campaigned for visible representation of their interests at the United Nations in in their own countries.

The Finnish diplomat Helvi Sipilä was appointed Deputy Secretary-General in 1972, making her the third highest-ranking official at the United Nations. She organised and chaired the first UN World Conference on Women in Mexico City in 1975 at which among other things, a world action plan to improve the situation of women was adopted. In the following years, conferences were held in Copenhagen 1980, Nairobi 1985 and Beijing 1995, whereby, the Beijing Declaration aimed for a life of women around the world without violence and discrimination. This declaration is still regarded as the most comprehensive concept for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Today, women's organisations and activists continue their work for women's rights and gender equality. Because of all the momentum and far-reaching resolutions and conventions, as well as the establishment of an organisation such as UN Women in 2010, gender equality has made significant progress in many parts of the world where equality was once believed un-attainable. The International Year of Women laid the foundation for many advances and developments. Today, much of the activities of the youngest generation continue to focus on the issue and driving forward equality in political representation and society.

The coin was designed by the artist Jordi Truxa the obverse side shows the international symbol for women with an incorporated equal sign in the centre. Half a globe develops around this on the left side and a woman's profile gazing ahead is shown on the right. Above the primary design and along the rim is the commemorative inscription INTERNATIONALES JAHR DER FRAU with the commemorative year 1975 placed below. The reverse side depicts the symbol of the Federal Republic of Germany, a stylised eagle centred. The text BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND is shown along the upper rim with the denomination 20 EURO placed above the eagle’s wings. The G mintmark denoting the Karlsruhe Mint is placed just above the denomination. The year 2025 and twelve five-pointed stars representing the European Union are arranged below the eagle and near the lower rim. The coin’s specifications SILBER 925 is shown just above the year. The smooth edge of the coin includes the incused edge lettering GLEICHHEIT – ENTWICKLUNG – FRIEDEN ♀ (Equality - Development - Peace)

Available from the 6th March, the Brilliant Uncirculated pieces are available for their face value at leading commercial banks and post office counters. The proof-quality collector’s edition is encapsulated and presented in a folder which is available by visiting the e-webshop of Munze Deutschland.

*Towards the end of the year, the entire €20 coin collection consisting of four 2025-dated pieces will be available in proof quality and as a set presented in an official blister-pak type folder.