Small German Coin One Pfennig Marked "Deutches Reich" The German Pfennig is the German one-cent unit ("pfennig" being German for, "penny"), that was used for centuries beginning in the ninth century, all the way up to Germany's adoption of the Euro in 2002. The front side of the 1904 German pfennig contains a crowned eagle with a shield in the center. The reverse side of the coin contains a numeric "1" surrounded by the phrase, "Deutsches Reich 1904 Pfennig," (meaning, German Empire 1904 Penny) around the rim.