This iron coin depicting two men building a tower was issued by the City of Gräfrath and was meant to be used as small change. The inscription says: "Vertrauen Gegen Vertrauen • Hilft Neu Das Reich Erbauen!" -- With combined confidence we will restore our empire. Most likely Reich translates more correctly as the 'German Nation' or the new Weimar Republic which was officially still called Deutsches Reich.

Gräfrath is a town in the modern German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is part of the city and municipality of Solingen. Its first appearance is in 1135 with a mention in historical records of a settlement named Greverode. It was home to an Augustan monastery as early as 1185. The building is now home to the Solingen German Blade Museum as well as the Gräfrath Museum.

In 1402 the the town was given greater freedoms and greater autonomy by Duke Wilhelm I of Jülich-Berg. Its population grew and it became a market town. In 1686 Gräfrath fell victim to fire, an all too common fate for old towns. Much of its historical buildings and the documents and history they contained were destroyed.

In 1856 Gräfrath, with its nearly 3000 inhabitants, was made an independant city by the Prussian government. Industrialization came to Gräfrath around 1870 and the city gain rail and industry such as iron and steel works. It retained its status as a city until 1929 when it was incorporated into Solingen during a municipal reorganization.