Germany. New Silver Coins Mark 75th Anniversary of the Mothers Recovery Fund

The second coin in the multi-part series entitled Shaping Women, focuses on the Federal Republic’s first-serving Presidential spouse Elly Heuss-Knapp and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Mother's Recovery Fund. The focus of the series is the celebration of female achievements and personalities in Germany in which a total of twelve coins will be issued between 2025 and 2035. The first coin featured the 50th anniversary of International Women's Year released in March.

A "Citizen of two worlds" is the title of a biography that describes the life of Elly Heuss-Knapp, social reformer and wife of the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Theodor Heuss. A well-educated professor's daughter, she became a politically committed social reformer, a representative of the state and founder of the Müttergenesungswerk (Mothers' Recovery Fund). These are just four aspects that characterised Elly Heuss-Knapp and made her unforgettable in Germany for her generation and beyond.

Born in 1881, Elisabeth Eleonora Anna Justine Knapp was already committed to women’s causes and equal rights by the age of 19. In 1900, she opened the first further education school for girls where she regularly taught. During her studies, after her marriage and the birth of her son in 1910 she wrote for newspapers and magazines and gave lectures on topics such as homework, domestic management, the role of women in business, and the women's movement.

Her first book, ‘Civic Studies and Economics for Women’ appeared in eight editions and, as one of the few women politically active at the time, she ran for office in the Reichstag for the German Democratic Party (DDP) in 1918 and 1920. She designed leaflets, delivered numerous election speeches and encouraged women to use their voices after the introduction of women's suffrage with the slogan "Women, campaign and vote! Every vote counts - the will of women prevails!" However, after the National Socialists seized power in 1933, Elly Heuss-Knapp, was no longer allowed to continue her work in broadcasting and her husband, Theodor Heuss, who would later become the first President of Germany’s Federal Republic, was forced to give up his teaching position at the German School of Politics. To secure their income, she found work in advertising and was credited with inventing the radio jingle, which revolutionised advertising.
Heuss-Knapp did not conform to the image of the typical hausfrau of the time, as a wife and mother she continued to work outside the home and was socially active.

She and her husband became what would be identified as a modern contemporary couple who supported and respected each other and their individual pursuits. With the return of democracy in West Germany after the destruction of the Second World War, Theodor Heuss, became his country’s first President in 1949 with his wife Elly by his side. A popular politician with an easy touch, Heuss is remembered today as having contributed markedly to the reimagining of his country as a nation that had learned its lessons from the past.

As the crowning achievement of her life, Heuss-Knapp, as First Lady of West Germany founded the Müttergenesungswerk (Mothers' Recovery Service) together with Dr. Antonie Nopitsch in 1950. The foundation was inspired from her own experiences and challenges of balancing family, career, and household responsibilities. The goal of the non-profit foundation was and still is to maintain and improve the health of mothers - and now also of fathers and caregivers. Today, five national welfare organisations work together under the umbrella of the Müttergenesungswerk. Elly Heuss-Knapp died on the 19th July 1952 with her husband Theodor following eleven years later. Today, her name and positive role as a social reformer, First Lady and founder of the Müttergenesungswerk continues to this day.

The obverse design, by artist Susanne Hopmann from Weimar, almost fills the coin and depicts a portrait of Elly Heuss-Knapp in three-quarter profile. Inspired from photographs taken in 1950 during the launch of the Müttergenesungswerk - Mothers' Recovery Fund, Heuss-Knapp is portrayed facing to the left with the text ELLY HEUSS-KNAPP placed along the left rim. The design is completed with the logo of the Müttergenesungswerk (Mothers' Recovery Association) and the anniversary number and text 75 JAHRE MÜTTERGENESUNGSWERK which is shown on the right of Heuss-Knapp’s portrait. The typography replicates the typefaces from the founding period of the Müttergenesungswerk. The coins include an incused inscription on the smooth edge which reads PIONIERIN • NETZWERKERIN • VISONÄRIN • (Pioneer Networker Visionary) on both UNC and proof quality strikes.

Available from the 11^th September, 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. 

*The entire €20 coin collection consisting of four 2025-dated pieces in proof-like quality and as a set presented in an official blister-pak type folder is now available to pre-order, with delivery commencing in late September.