Obverse: The obverse of the coin features the griffin from the coat of arms of the German Archaeological Institute – a mythical creature with the body of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle, holding an ancient-style vessel in its paw. Around the griffin, the inscription reads: "150 JAHRE DEUTSCHES ARCHÄOLOGISCHES INSTITUT 1829–197".
Reverse: The reverse of the coin depicts the German federal eagle above the inscription BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND (Eng. Federal Republic of Germany), below which is the denomination DEUTSCHE MARK 5, with the year of issue 1979 on either side of the number 5, and below them, the mint mark J, indicating that the coin was minted at the Hamburg Mint.
About the coin: This is a 5 Deutsche Mark (DM) commemorative coin issued to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the German Archaeological Institute.
