5 Deutsche Mark 25 Jahre Grundgesetz

Issued to mark the 25th anniversary of the Basic Law — West Germany's constitutional framework adopted on 23 May 1949 — this coin was struck during a period when that constitution's legitimacy was under considerable internal pressure. The early 1970s saw the Baader-Meinhof group actively challenging the Federal Republic's foundations, making the anniversary politically charged rather than ceremonial.

The .625 fineness is characteristic of West German commemorative fives from this decade, a deliberate step down from earlier issues that reflects the rising silver prices of the period.