Job Discussion Forums

[boundforsaudi]

I've got 50 or 100 Deutsch Marks, all in coins, and I've got a 3 hour layover in Franfurt tomorrow. Will I be able to spend or exchange them?

[butterbrot]

Not unless you can get yourself to the Bundesbank. I'm not even sure if the Deutsche Bundesbank will still exchange them but if they are exchangeable at this late date, the Bundesbank will be the only place. I'd phone them first.

Their contact information for Frankfurt:

Deutsche Bundesbank
Taunusanlage 5
60329 Frankfurt am Main
Phone +49 (069) 23 88-0

[boundforsaudi]

Hmm, probably too risky to try to make it down to the Innenstadt. I'm not familiar with Frankfurt, and my German is rusty.

I found this:

"Although all of the legacy currencies ceased to be legal tender at the end of February, the currencies can still be redeemed for euro at commercial and national central banks. However, only four countries (Austria, Germany, Ireland and Spain) will redeem national coins and banknotes indefinitely."

http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:TMLsS880dw8J:www.dallasfed.org/research/swe/2002/swe0202a.html+dallas+currency+exchange+coins&hl=en&start=3

So I thought a "commercial" bank might do, whatever that is, in or near the airport. Failing that, I was wondering whether marks might be accepted at a restaurant or something.

[poro]

[butterbrot]

I seem to remember something similar to what poro wrote, now that I think about it. You could also call one of the Landesbank like Sparkasse and ask if they'll take them.

I really doubt that you'd have any luck making purchases with them though because that would mean the shop owner would have to schlep them down specially to one of the banks themselves and they probably won't be willing to do it.

You could try but it seems a much better option to simply telephone the Bundesbank and ask for someone who speaks English.

[scot47]

While you're at it as them if they will change my inflation marks, my Reichsmarks (pre-1945) and my Mark der Deutschen Notenbank (GDR marks) at par !

[poro]

Here you go - straight from the horse's mouth:

Welche Fristen gelten beim Umtausch f�r ung�ltig gewordene nationale Banknoten und M�nzen in den einzelnen L�ndern?

Die DM (Deutsche Mark) - Euro Umtauschgarantie der Deutschen Bundesbank ist zeitlich unbegrenzt und unbefristet.

http://www.bundesbank.de/bargeld/bargeld_faq_banknotendm.php

If you read a little further down, you'll see there isn't even a limit for coins.