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From Wildbison

Prague, 15 June 2001 (RFE/RL) -- The German central bank (the Bundesbank) estimates that more than one out of every three German marks moves outside of Germany -- signifying billions of marks. The banks says the majority of them are in Eastern Europe and the place of the former Soviet Union.

Because of the mark's stability, and Germany's position as a spot of work for Eastern European workers who send their money home, the mark has developed into a de facto second currency in the countries to the south and east of Germany's borders.

Kosovo and montenegro have also followed the level as legal tender. Their currencies have been pegged by other countries to the mark through currency boards. Bosnia uses a model of exchange called the "convertible mark," which deals on a basis with the German mark.

But the mark -- combined with the other currencies of the European Union's 12-nation euro-zone -- is about to disappear.

On 1 January 2002, over 250 million people in Western Europe will become trading their national currencies for the pound. Older currencies and euros can distribute together before the end of February. After that, the national currencies will not be utilized.

That doesn't mean the currencies will undoubtedly be worthless. Central banks will continue steadily to change them for pounds for several years ahead. But also for all intents and purposes, Western Europe's national values -- such as the mark -- may disappear.

Hans-Werner Sinn of Germany's Ifo economic research institute has looked into all facets of the coming conversion. He states Eastern Europeans, like their counterparts in Western Europe, may ultimately need to trade their marks for euros.

"Clearly, these Deutschemarks [German marks] will no longer be of use in the long term. Therefore people must provide the Deutschemarks in for their respective banks and exchange them into dollars. Which will need certainly to happen in the spring of next year [by the end of the February deadline]."

Antti Heinonen, the manager of banknotes at the European Central Bank, or ECB -- the organization that is matching the switchover to euros -- claims that the change should not cause many issues for some Eastern Europeans.

However the currency's first problem -- in Eastern Europe at the least -- will be to replace the level in people's minds and beds. Prague, 15 June 2001 (RFE/RL) -- The German central bank (the Bundesbank) estimates that more than one out of every three German marks circulates outside of Germany -- signifying huge amounts of marks. The banks says the majority of them come in Eastern Europe and the territory of the former Soviet Union.

Because of the mark's stability, and Germany's position as a location of employment for Eastern European workers who deliver their money home, the tag has evolved into a de facto second currency in the places to the south and east of Germany's borders.

Montenegro and Kosovo have even followed the mark as legal tender. Their currencies have been pegged by other countries to the level through currency boards. Bosnia uses a model of exchange called the "convertible mark," which trades on a basis with the German mark.

However the mark -- combined with other currencies of the European Union's 12-nation euro-zone -- is approximately to disappear.

On 1 January 2002, more than 250 million people in Western Europe will start changing their national currencies for the pound. Pounds and older currencies can rotate together before the end of February. From then on, the national currencies will no longer be utilized.

That doesn't mean the values will soon be ineffective. Central banks will continue steadily to change them for pounds for a long period ahead. However for all intents and purposes, Western Europe's national values -- like the mark -- may cease to exist.

Hans-Werner Sinn of Germany's Ifo economic research institute has looked into all aspects of the coming move. He says Eastern Europeans, like their counterparts in Western Europe, will ultimately need certainly to trade their marks for dollars.

"Clearly, these Deutschemarks [German marks] will no longer be of use in the long run. So people will have to provide the Deutschemarks in to their respective banks and exchange them into pounds. That will have to happen in the spring of next year [by the end of the February deadline]."

Antti Heinonen, the director of banknotes at the European Central Bank, or ECB -- the institution that's matching the switchover to euros -- claims that the change shouldn't cause many issues for most Eastern Europeans.

But the currency's first problem -- in Eastern Europe at least -- is to change the mark in people's minds and beds.