As the first vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, built by Carl Benz in 1886, is thought of as the world's first car. This fine silver coin is dated 2002.

A two-seater, three-wheeled automobile with a rear-mounted engine, Benz’s creation featured a host of new inventions. Constructed of steel tubing with woodwork panels, the Motorwagen came with steel-spoked wheels and solid rubber tires of Benz's own design. The engine output was 0.75 horsepower with a speed of up to 15 KPH. Details included an automatic intake slide, a controlled exhaust valve, high-voltage electrical vibrator ignition with spark plug, and water/thermo siphon evaporation cooling. Steering was by tiller, and the only means of braking was the large hand lever acting upon a leather-covered block. The original cost of the vehicle was $1,000. No less than 25 production units of the patent motorwagen were sold.