GERMANY. Bundesrepublik Deutschland. 1949-present. 5 Deutsche Mark 1974 J (Silver, 29 mm, 11.45 g, 12 h), modified as a 'Cowboy-Heiermann', Hamburg. Federal eagle with gun, sheriff star and cowboy hat. Rev. BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND // DEUTSCHE MARK around 5 / ✱1974✱ / •J•. Cf. Jaeger 387 (for prototype). An interesting curiosity. Tiny marks and edge nicks, otherwise, extremely fine.


Defacing coins for humorous or political effect by soldering additional elements onto them was a popular form of folk satire in Germany for decades. The best-known examples are the coins of Wilhelm II, whose portrait was often embellished with improvised additions ranging from hats to jester’s caps in order to mock the emperor. Comparable altered pieces made from modern West German coinage are considerably rarer.

This remarkable example recasts the Federal eagle as a gun-carrying sheriff on the frontier, capturing the enormous influence of American popular culture in postwar West Germany. In both concept and execution, it reflects the country’s enthusiasm for Western films and the broader cowboy craze that permeated popular culture during the 1970s.