German cash accepted at the Raffles Hotel?

Went to the Bar & Billiard Room at the Raffles Hotel for lunch today. This antique cash register occupies pride of place on the bar and I have admired it on a number of occasions. I noticed for the first time today, though, that it is German. Making a sale in the day, the cashier would have been punching in marks and pfennigs. What's the story behind this I wonder?