The intervention did little to discourage buyers, though, and the dollar ended the day at 1.89575 marks, up from 1.89325 on Wednesday.
The dollar ended 1991 at 1.5170 marks, up only 1.68 percent and showed similar increases against other European currencies.
The dollar ended the day at 1.8175 marks in Europe.
It continued the advance in New York to end at 1.6785 marks, up from 1.6717.
The dollar ended at 1.7177 marks, down from its day's high of 1.7230 and a little below Thursday's 1.7197.
It ended the trading day in New York at less than 1.98 marks.
The dollar had ended trading here on Friday at 144.50 yen and 1.5635 marks.
On Tuesday the dollar ended at 1.7375 marks and 121.92 yen.
It eked out a gain against the German mark, ending the day at 1.4055 marks, up from 1.3960.
In New York trading, the dollar continued to fall, ending the day at 1.8628 marks.