Berlin

The main building of Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, seen from the cour d'honneur side. At the bottom centre: the name of the federal state 'BERLIN' and the mint mark ('A', 'D', 'F', 'G' or 'J'). Above to the left: the year '2018'; to the right: the country code 'D'. The flowing initials of artist Bodo Broschat are hidden beneath the left of the two stylised portal figures.

As the capital of Germany, Berlin carries a history that extends far beyond its role as a political centre. Founded in the 13th century, the city on the Spree grew into one of Europe's most important metropolises. As the residence of the Hohenzollerns and later capital of the German Reich, Berlin experienced the golden ages of the Kingdom of Prussia as well as the turmoil of two world wars and the division of the Cold War. Charlottenburg Palace, the oldest surviving palace in Berlin, exemplifies this eventful past: the baroque building was erected from 1699 on the orders of Elector Friedrich III and expanded into a magnificent residence to a design by Eosander von Göthe. Severely damaged in the Second World War, it was faithfully restored over decades of work and is today regarded as one of the outstanding cultural monuments of the German capital.

Berlin is today Germany's most populous federal state and, at the same time, a state in its own right within the federal structure. Since reunification in 1990, the city has developed into a vibrant political, economic and cultural hub. As a federal state, Berlin combines the function of a city-state with that of the seat of government, giving it a distinctive position compared with other German states. As part of the German Federal States series, Germany honoured this state in 2018 with its own 2-euro commemorative coin - recognition of Berlin as a historically and politically significant member of the German federation.