WORLD PAPER MONEY
BY COUNTRY A to H

BANKNOTES FROM SOVIET OCCUPIED & TALIBAN AFGHANISTAN

This set of 4 attractive Afghanistan banknotes were introduced in 1978 during the Soviets occupation of Afghanistan.  The notes continued to be printed until about 1991 for the Taliban and various warlords.  The set includes the 50, 100 and 500 and 1000 Afghani notes in crisp uncirculated condition.  The 50 Afghani pictures the Dar-al-Aman palace in Kabul.  The 100 Afghani depicts a farmer and the Naghlu hydroelectric dam on the Kabul river.  The 500 Afghani pictures a group of horsemen playing Buzkashi. Buzkashi is the national sport of Afghanistan.  It is somewhat similar to polo, but is played with goat or calf carcass and has few, if any, rules. The 1000 Afghani depicts a flock of birds at the Mazar-e-Sharif Mosque (Noble shrine) on one side.  The other side pictures the monument to fallen soldiers and the Victory Arch in Paghman Gardens near Kabul.  They were built to commemorate Afghan victory over the British in 1919, heavily damaged during the Soviet-Afghanistan war in the 1980's and have since been restored. The notes all bear the seal of the Afghanistan bank on the front. The seal includes an image of an ancient Greco-Bactrian Tetradrachm minted circa 171-179BC, two cornucopias spilling out coins and the year the bank was founded (1939).  The notes are a reminder of the recent troubled and violent history of Afghanistan.

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WWI AUSTRIAN POW CAMP NOTE

This 10 Heller currency note was issued for the Aschach A.D. Prisoner of War camp during World War I.   The camp was located near the small town of Aschach an der Donau, which is in Upper Austria on the Danube River. The POW Camp primarily held Officers and Non-commissioned officers from Serbia and Montenegro. The Serbian government estimated some 6000 of its citizens died at the camp due poor living conditions, lack of hygiene and inadequate medical care.  Today Aschach is a town of about 2000 people, which is not much larger than it was during World War I. Minimal effort was spent on designing the note.  The light-blue note features the same design on both sides.  The front and back features a "modern" Austrian eagle. The note was issued from about 1916 to 1918. It measures 110 x 70mm.

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BIG BEAUTIFUL UNCIRCULATED BANKNOTE OF SHORT-LIVED GERMAN-AUSTRIA

German-Austria (Deutsch-Österreich) was a short-lived republic that was created after World War I after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  It claimed sovereignty over the German speaking portions of the former Hapsburg Empire.  Not seeing itself as a viable nation, having lost the agricultural lands of Hungary and the industrial areas of Bohemia (Czechoslovakia) it planned to join Germany as part of the Weimar Republic. However, treaties forced upon Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire following their defeat prevented this.  The Treaty of Versailles prohibited its unification with Germany, and the Treaty of Saint Germain prohibited it from calling itself German-Austria.  The modern Republic of Austria was then created out of the central core of German-Austria, with other areas claimed by German-Austria becoming parts of Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Italy. Because of the rush to get the needed currency into circulation this 1000 Kronen banknote of German-Austria utilized the design of the existing Austro-Hungarian Empire 1000 Kronen note overprinted with the word “DEUTSCHÖSTERREICH” in red ink.  Though the note was released in 1920, it still bore the 1902 date of the original banknote.  The front of the note features a crowned double-headed eagle in the center and a vignette of a young woman with garlands of flowers in her hair at the right.  The back includes two more vignettes of the same young woman.  The large sized note is 192 x 128mm (approximately 7.6" x 5").  The note was replaced with an Austrian note in 1922 and was demonetized in 1924.  It is an impressive, historic banknote from a short-lived country in Uncirculated condition.

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HINTERBRUHL, AUSTRIA NOTE PROMOTES TOWN

The town of Hinterbrühl Austria was a popular resort town for artists, aristocracy and upper-crust Viennese "longing to escape the heat and unsanitary conditions of the city in summer, its annual typhus and dysentery epidemics and the poor water quality, in search of fresh air, peace and quiet". On June 2, 1920 the town issued a large (152 x 82mm) 80 Heller note which promoted the towns attractions.  The front describes the town as being near Vienna and depicts the Hotel FM Redetzky.  The 100 Room hotel was the premier institution in town. Built in 1913, it was designed by famed Austrian-American architect Wilhelm Baumgarten. It advertised itself as a "High Class Hotel" with such amenities as hot and cold running water, central heating, an American bar, 5 o'clock tea, breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, splendid gardens and marvelous views.  The back of the note describes Hinterbruhl as the "Most splendid air resort of the whole Vienna Woods. Surrounded by resin-scented pine forest. … Just 49 minutes from Vienna on the Südbahn Railroad.  Especially favorable for convalescents and those suffering from the nerves. Every year about 4000 summer guests. Baths, water - sanatoriums, post office, telegraph and telephone station. Comfortable hotels and inns." The back of the note also mentions that the town is the terminus of the Mödling-Hinterbrühl tram, built in 1885. (The Mödling-Hinterbrühl Tram was the first electric tram in Austria and, it was the first railway in the world that was run with electricity delivered by an overhead line in permanent service.) Also on the back of the note is the nearby Liechtenstein Castle. Liechtenstein ("bright stone") Castle is the origin of the name of the Liechtenstein family, the ruling house of the country by the same name.  The family owned the castle in the 12th and 13th century and again starting in 1807.  The note was good only for the summer of 1920 as it expired on September 30. It is an unusual promotional piece of notgeld currency.

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BANKNOTES OF UPPER AUSTRIA

After the collapse and dismemberment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire following its defeat in World War I, coins disappeared from circulation. The state of Upper Austria issued these small, low denomination notes to help alleviate the coin shortage. The 20 Heller note depicts buildings in Upper Austria on both sides of the note, including the Church of Saints Michael and Ursula and the Holy Trinity Column in Linz. One side of the orange 50 Heller note features the arms of Upper Austria.  The other side is blank.     Both notes are dated 1921 and were issued in Linz, the capital of Upper Austria.

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HISTORIC AUSTRIAN NOTGELD NOTES 

With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire following World War I, hundreds of local communities briefly issued their own emergency currency, known as notgeld, for use within the town.  These notes are denominated in Heller and usually depict scenes of the issuing community.  They are an inexpensive, interesting and historic collectable. Most of the notes are dated 1920 and most grade VF to Unc.  Every lot is different, with few duplicates between lots.

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BEAUTIFUL OLD BANKNOTES OF COMMUNIST BULGARIA  

This seven beautiful, old, multi-colored, Uncirculated banknotes from communist Bulgaria is dated 1951.  The 3 and 5 Leva notes feature an upraised hammer and sickle.  A farmer and tractor is on the 10 Leva. A railroad construction crew is on the 25 Leva.  A peasant woman with a basket of roses is on the 50 Leva, A woman picking grapes is on the 100 Leva and farmers picking tobacco are on the 200 Leva.   The backs of the higher denomination notes picture Georgi Dimitrov, the first communist leader of Bulgaria. The value of the note corresponds with its size, thus the 3 Leva is 120mm x 60mm while the 200 Leva is an impressive 175mm x 90mm. All seven attractive notes feature watermarks.  

ALSO SEE:
FIRST COINS OF COMMUNIST BULGARIA 1 - 50 Stotinkik 1951-1959

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JAPANESE INVASION MONEY FOR BURMA

Prior to World War II, Burma (now Myanmar) was under British rule. Japanese forces attacked Burma on December 14, 1941.  Within five months the British forces were defeated or retreated to India and Burma came under Japanese control. Japan issued thee banknotes for their occupation of Burma.. Like the previous British issues, the notes are in English and denominated in Rupees. The undated notes were issued from 1942 to 1944.  The fronts of the notes all bear the legend "THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT" and depict the Ananada Temple in Pagan (Bagan).  The backs have the denomination and a geometric design.  This five-note set includes the 1/2, 1, 5, 10 and 100 Rupees. The notes are Uncirculated, though may have been slightly mishandled in storage.

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OLD BANKNOTES OF CHINA

In 1930 The Central Bank of China introduced special banknotes, called Custom Gold Units (CGU). Initially the unusual vertical notes were used to pay customs duties, were backed by silver and had a fixed exchange rate of 1 CGU = 40 U.S. cents.   After 1935 China stopped backing the notes with silver. By 1942 the notes entered general circulation alongside other Chinese banknotes, with a value of 1 CGU = 20 Yuan.  The notes continued to be used until 1948.   The front of the note depicts Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China..  The Shanghai Custom House is on the back. The notes were printed by the American Banknote Company. This set of 3 notes includes the 5, 10 and 20 Custom Gold Units date 1930.
In November 1935 China implemented a major currency reform which removed silver backing of the Chinese Yuan and outlawed the private ownership of silver.   New banknotes were introduced in 1936.  This set includes the 5, 10, 50 and 100 Yuan notes dated 1936. The notes all have similar designs. Sun Yat-sen is on the front and is in Chinese.  The back pictures the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Beijing and is in English. The notes were printed by Waterloo & Sons in London.  All the notes feature a watermark of Sun Yat Sen.  

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HISTORIC BANK OF CHINA CURRENCY

The Bank of China is the oldest and one of the largest banks in China.  It was founded in 1905 and was named Bank of China in 1912. It was one of four major note issuing banks for the Republic of China.  It currently issues banknotes for both Hong Kong and Macao, making it one of the only banks in the world to issue currency for three different realms.  

THE BANK OF CHINA'S CURSED BUILDING

In 1930 The Bank of China began to construct a new 34-story headquarters on the Bund in Shanghai.  It was built on property that had been confiscated from the Germans during World War I. Perhaps a departing German cursed the property.   It was to be the highest building in the Far East. However, Britisher Victor Sassoon, the owner of the Sassoon House (now Fairmont Peace Hotel) located next door, demanded that no building be higher than his.  The municipal government, under British control, limited the height of the bank building giving it a chopped off appearance.  In 1937 the building was topped out at a height of 15 stories and the bank issued new banknotes to mark the occasion.  The back of the notes depict the Bank of China building along with a partial image of the Sasson House on the left and the Yokohama Specie Bank the right.. The front depicts Sun Yat Sen and have a watermark of the Temple of Heaven.  Unfortunately, the war with Japan broke out the same year which delayed the completion and move into the building.  The bank was not able to move into the building until 1946.  The notes were printed by Thomas De La Rue in London.

WORLD WAR II NOTES OF THE BANK OF CHINA

In 1937 Japan invaded China,  forcing the Chinese government and The Bank of China to retreat to the remote city of Chungking (now Chongqing). From there the Bank of China issued this blue 5 Yuan,  red 10 Yuan and purple 100 Yuan notes dated 1940. The 100 Yuan note is overprinted "Chungking" in English on the back, and in Chinese on the front.  Sun Yat Sen is on the front and the Temple of Heaven is on the back of all the notes.  The notes were printed by the American Bank Note Company in New York. The notes were among the last released by the Bank of China for the Republic of China, which ceased to issue notes for China in 1942.

BANK OF CHINA CURRENCY FOR HONG KONG AND MACAU

After World War II most of the Bank of China was nationalized by the People's Republic of China, which operates it as a government owned commercial bank. Ahead of China's takeover of Hong Kong and Macau, China insisted that the Bank of China be allowed to issue banknotes for both territories. It is one of three banks that issues currency for Hong Kong and one of two banks issuing currency for Macau. This 2015 Bank of China 20 Dollar note for Hong Kong note depicts Bauhinia flowers and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong on the front.  The distinctive building was designed by I. M. Pei and was the tallest building in Hong Kong when it opened in 1990.  The back of the note portrays the shore of Repulse Bay.  The note includes braille to assist the blind and many security devices including, microprinting, watermark, security thread, SPARK (an optically variable magnetic ink) and iridescent ink.  The Bank of China Macau 10 Pataca dated 2008 features the A-Ma temple on the front.  Built in 1488, the temple is one of the oldest in Macau and thought to be the settlement's namesake. The back depicts the Bank of China Building in Macau.  It is the second highest building in Macau.  The bank's name is in Portuguese "Banco da China"

Also see:
HONG KONG - BANK OF CHINA $20 1998 BANKNOTE

MACAO - BANK OF CHINA YEAR OF THE PIG BANKNOTE

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WORLD WAR II JAPANESE MILITARY CURRENCY USED IN CHINA  

Japan  issued Military Currency starting in 1938 for use in the areas of China that they occupied. Because civilians were forced to accept the Military Yen, which was not backed and could not be exchanged into Japanese Yen, it cost the Japanese government virtually nothing to purchase whatever they wanted. The initial issues of Military currency were created by taking partially completed Japanese homeland notes and overprinting them on the front and back with four large red characters that read "Military Note". 

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LAST NOTES OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA

These 10 Dollar and 20 Dollar notes dated February 17, 1864 were part of the seventh and final series of notes issued by the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.  According to the legend they were "Payable two years after the ratification of a peace treaty between the Confederate States and the United States of America".  With the defeat of the Confederacy in 1865 they were never paid.  The 10 Dollar note depicts horsemen pulling a large cannon, with fighting going on in the background.  Also pictured is Robert M.T. Hunter who served as the Confederate Secretary of State and later as a Confederate Senator.  The 20 Dollar note depicts the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville and Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens.  The notes have a pink underprint on the front and the denomination in words and numerals in blue on the back. They were printed by Keatinge & Ball in Columbia, South Carolina and are approximately 7" x 3" (180 x 80mm). The notes are hand signed and hand numbered. 

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CONGO NOTES FEATURE WILDLIFE & CULTURE

This set of four attractive banknotes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo features the country’s wildlife and culture.  The 2003 dated 10 Francs features native carvings, with a carving of a couple embracing on the front and one of a man holding a bowl on the back.  The 2003 20 Francs features a male lion on the front and a female lion and her cubs on the back.  The 2007 50 Francs  features a wooden mask on the front.  The back depicts a fishing village on the Congo river and fish.  The 2007 100 Francs note features an elephant on the front.  The back depicts the Inga II dam and hydroelectric power plant.  Inaugurated in 1982, the 1400 Megawatt plant is to be part of the Inga hydroelectric project that is supposed supply electricity to much of southern Africa. Due to poor management and lack of maintenance the dam produces only about 20% of its capacity and is not even able to ensure reliable power to the capital city of Kinshasa.  Despite its failure, plans are underway to build additional phases of the project.  All four notes have a watermark of the head of an Okapi and are Uncirculated. 

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BANKNOTE OF NAZI OCCUPIED CROATIA

On April 6, 1941 Axis Forces under Nazi Germany invaded Yugoslavia.  They promptly conquered and divided the nation along ethnic lines, creating the puppet governments for Croatia and Serbia.   Other bits of Yugoslavia were divided between Germany's allies. Croatia was nominally ruled by an Italian prince who never set foot in the country.. From the Nazi puppet state of Croatia we have the 1943 1000 Kuna note. The note has an ancient frieze on the front and two Croatian women in fancy native costumes.  It was  printed in Germany by Giesecke & Devrient, a private company which is still printing banknotes.   

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SERBIAN KRAJINA & CROATIA AT WAR 

With the collapse of Yugoslavia, the Serbian portions of Croatia declared independence from Croatia, even before Croatia declared itself independent from Yugoslavia.  The Serbs formed the Republic of Serbian Krajina and had their capital at Knin.  A brutal war broke out, and both Croatia (Republika Hrvatska) and Serbian Krajina suffered from severe inflation as they tried to finance themselves by printing money.  Krajina was defeated in 1995 and reincorporated into Croatia.  From Serbian Kranina we have the 500,000 Dinara and 500,000,000 Dinara notes dated 1993.  Both notes have similar designs.   The notes feature the Knin fortress on a hill on one side, and the Serbian arms on the other.  The Croatia 50,000 Dinara and 100,000 Dinara are dated 1993.  Both feature Croatian astronomer, physicist, mathematician, and philosopher Roger Joseph Boscovich.  Boscovich is famous for his atomic theory.  In 1753 he discovered the absence of atmosphere on the Moon.  The reverse of the notes have the Statue of  "Glagolica Mother Croatia", a marble statue created in 1932 by artist Ivan Mestrovic. The sculpture is of a mother holding on her lap a stone tablet with “History of Croatians” engraved in the old Croatian script.  The original sculpture has been in a "temporary exhibition" in Belgrade, Serbia since 1934.  Serbia has refused to return the statue to Croatia.  A bronze copy is at Zagreb University in Croatia

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CHE GUEVARA ON CUBA 3 PESO NOTE

Revolutionary Ernesto 'Che' Guevara is featured on both sides of this 2004 Cuban 3 Pesos banknote. His portrait is on the front, and an a picture of him harvesting sugar cane is on the back   Che was a close comrade to Fidel Castro and served in many rolls, including minister of industries, President of the National Bank, and deciding who gets executed by firing squads. It is an unusual denomination featuring a well-known communist hero.

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THE SHORT-LIVED FARMER’S GOVERNMENT OF HADERSLEV IN DENMARK

Haderslev is a town in Denmark located near Germany. Unhappy with the traditional political parties and reinforced by an agricultural crises in 1926. Haderslev declared itself an independent "Self Government of the Farm".  The purpose was to establish a "new state modeled after ancient Frisian traditions".   In order to help finance the new government, Haderslav issued banknotes dated June 1, 1927.  They were denominated in Kroner but tied to the U.S. dollar. The inscriptions on the notes indicate "1 Kr. = 26/100 Dollar".  The notes bear the facsimile signatures of the founders of the movement.  The movement  fell apart about a year later.   This brown 2 Kroner note of Haderslev has inscriptions on the front.  The back depicts archers shooting at a fleeing horseman, a design that was used on a 1920 Haderslev notgeld note.  It is approximately 110x73mm.  It is a scarce and historic banknote from a failed "new model state".

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ANCIENT THEMES ON MODERN EGYPTIAN NOTES

Egypt’s ancient heritage is portrayed on these modern Egyptian banknotes.  The statue of Nefertiti is on the 5 Piastres note.  The front of the 10 Piastres note depicts the Sphinx and pyramids and the Mohammad Ali (Alabaster) Mosque in Cairo on the back.  Both notes have watermarks of King Tut.  Because of their minimal buying power, the undated notes no longer circulate.

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ERITREA NOTE FEATURES NATIVE GIRLS AND STUDENTS  

This 1997 1 Nakfa note was one of the first notes issued by Eritrea after gaining its independence from Ethiopia.  The front features three native girls.  To their left if a small vignette of men raising the Eritrean flag.  To the right is a camel and a watermark of a camel’s head.  The back features a group of students in a bush school.  It is an attractive note featuring the young people of a young nation.

ALSO SEE:
ERITREA WILDLIFE COIN SET

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FIJI $7 DOLLAR BILL COMMEMORATES OLYMPIC GOLD RUGBY TEAM

Fiji recently released a $7 Dollar bill to commemorate the Fiji Rugby 7s gold medal win at the 2016 Rio Olympics.  It was Fiji's first Olympic gold medal.  The front is in a vertical format and features team captain Osea Kolinisau.  Behind him is the flag of Fiji.  Below is team coach Ben Ryan and the depiction of two winning tries being scored. A watermark, in the shape of a rugby ball, depicts leading ball carrier Savenaca Rawaca.  The back is in a horizontal format and depicts the winning Olympic team along with team officials and the Prime Minister of Fiji. When placed under an ultraviolet light, the gold medals worn by the players are visible in gold color.  It is an attractive, colorful note with many security features and is the only circulating seven dollar bill in the world today.

ALSO SEE:
FIJI 50 CENTS 2017 RUGBY SEVENS OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL 

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MAGNIFICENT GERMAN EMPIRE & WEIMAR REPUBLIC NOTES OF GERMANY 

These large, beautiful German notes were issued before, during and after World War I by both the German Empire and the Weimar Republic.  The blue 100 Mark is dated 1908   Regardless of when the notes were actually printed, they always carried the original date. The notes issued by the German Empire have a red seal and serial numbers.  The Weimar Republic continued to issue the notes with the same date and designs from 1918 to 1922, but with a green seal and serial number.  The 100 Mark note features the crowned imperial German eagle on one side.  The other side features allegorical figures representing industry and agriculture holding a large portrait of the Norse goddess Freya. Freya is associated with gold, love, sex, beauty, war and death.  Her name is the basis of the day of the week Friday.  The note measures 160x105mm.  When first issued in 1910 the note was worth about $24 (which had the buying power of about $600 today!).  By the end of 1922 it was worth less than a cent.  These unusual "multi-government" notes are impressive pieces of historical currency.

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HISTORIC WORLD WAR I BANKNOTES OF GERMANY

This set includes eight different attractive and historic banknotes issued by Germany during World War I. The war caused a major strain on Germany's monetary system.  People hoarded coins and large sums were needed to pay for the war effort.  Notes issued by the Reichsbank were backed by gold and could be exchanged for gold upon demand.  Shortly after the war started the Reichsbank suspended converting the notes for gold, though notes issued by the Reichsbank were supposedly still backed by gold.  Far more money was needed for the war effort than Germany had gold, so a new series of notes without any backing, called Darlehnskassenschein, were issued.  The notes were technically an interest-free loan to the government.  The Reichsbank and Darlehnskassenschein notes circulated together at par. This eight note set includes the 20 Mark Reichsbanknote issued dated February 19, 1914.  When initially issued the note could be redeemed for .23 troy ounces of gold.  A second Reichsbank 20 Mark note was issued dated November 4, 1915. The front of the handsome blue note features two men pouring coins from cornucopias.  The back depicts a man rolling up his sleeves for work during the day and a woman sleeping at night.  In August 1914, just a few months after the war started 1, 2, 5 and 50 Mark Darlehnskassenschein notes were issued. The small 1 and 2 Mark notes was issued to replace the silver coins that disappeared from circulation due to hoarding.  Both notes have embossed seals.  The blue 5 Mark note features two allegorical heads of Germania, the imperial crown, scepter and sword.  The brown 20 Mark note includes the heads of Minerva and Mercury and the imperial eagle.  The 50 Mark note, though dated 1914, was not actually released until early 1916.  In 1917 a new, attractive 5 Mark Darlehnskassenschein note was introduced.  The note dated August 1, 1917 features he head of a young woman with flowers in her hair on the front and the imperial crown with oak leaves on the back.   The dark brown 20 Mark note dated February 20 1918 was the last Darlehnskassenschein note issue of World War I. The front depicts the heads of Minerva at the left and Mercury at the right.  The back features a knight in armor and an allegorical woman. The note measures 140x90mm.  The eight notes grade Very Good to Very Fine.  Because we purchased a large hoard of German banknotes at a good price, we can offer this historic set well below its current catalog value

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EMERGENCY WORLD WAR I 50 PFENNIG NOTE OF KIEL, GERMANY

Kiel is an important seaport located at the mouth of the Kiel Canal which connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.  It was also a major base for the German Imperial Navy.   By the beginning of 1918 the war effort was not going well for Germany.  Though the German government continued to mint silver 1/2 Mark coins, they were hoarded almost as soon as they were minted, resulting in a serious coin shortage.   To help alleviate the shortage and allow merchants and citizens to carry on commercial transactions the city of Kiel issued this emergency 50 Pfennig note dated January 1, 1918. The front features the denomination and date in words and has a green under-printing depicting ships on the ocean.  The back features the Kiel city hall.  

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EMERGENCY WORLD WAR I BANKNOTE OF KIEL

This 10 Mark note was issued by the German city of Kiel in the closing days of World War I.  It is dated October 15, 1918, less than a month before the end of the War.  Kiel, located on the strategically important Kiel Canal which connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, was a major base of the Imperial German Navy. By 1918 Germany was in a near hopeless position.  The Americans had entered the war against Germany. Morale of its citizens and armed forces was low.  The economy was a wreck. It could not produce food to feed its populace nor produce enough arms to continue fighting.  On October 24, 1918 the order was given for the German fleet to attack the Royal Navy in hopes of gaining a stronger negation position for favorable peace terms.  Seeing the hopelessness of their situation, sailors of the German High Seas Fleet instead mutinied. By November 4, the sailors, joined by soldiers and workers had taken over the entire city of Kiel, taking control of both military and public institutions. Revolts quickly spread to other cities throughout Germany. On November 11, Germany having been abandoned by its allies and tittering on collapse signed the armistice bringing an end to World War I.  The note was an emergency issue that was to expire on May 1, 1919, less than seven months after its issue date. It measures 136x87mm and depicts the Kiel city hall on the back.  It is a little known but historic note issued during a turbulent period of history.

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HIGH-GRADE WEIMAR GERMAN BANKNOTE

These 1 and 2 Mark notes dated March 1, 1920 were some of the first notes issued by Germany's Weimar government after World War I. They were needed to help relieve the serious coin shortage that developed in Germany during and after World War I.  The notes were technically were not legal tender but a non-interest-bearing loan to the government. that did not stop people from accepting them as the low denomination notes were needed to purchase essential goods.  When first issued the 1 Mark note could buy about a pound of flour or half a dozen eggs.  The notes include an embossed seal and are printed on watermarked paper. They are quite reasonably priced for historic high-grade notes that are almost a century old.  We also have a few original, unopened packs of 50 of the 2 Mark note in Uncirculated condition.

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GERMAN WEIMAR REPUBLIC 100 MARK BANKNOTE

The Weimar Republic was formed after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I.  Its early years were a tumultuous period of uprisings, riots and massive inflation.  It is named after the city where the new German constitution was written and adopted in August, 1919, and lasted until the rise of the Nazis in 1933.    The 100 Mark note features two images of the head of the “Bamberg Horseman”. The horseman is an impressive 13th century sculpture in the Bamberg Cathedral.  The Bamberg Horsman depicts a famous king, however which king it is is a matter of debate. The note is dated November 1, 1920, measures 162x108mm and includes the red Weimar Republic crest.

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SMALL COLORFUL GERMAN NOTGELD NOTES

These small paper Notgeld notes were initially issued by towns during World War I to provide for small change. Most were denominated 1 Mark or less and are usually less than 4 inches (90mm) long.  By 1921 most notes were being made to sell to collectors and the designs became increasingly colorful. The issues ceased after 1922 with the collapse of the German economy.  The colorful notes are a fun and popular collectible.  They have a wide variety of themes, including fairy tales, local history, monuments, and political satire.  Most notes are Uncirculated. Every lot is different, though there may be some duplication between lots. They will make a fun and interesting addition to your collection.

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INFLATION NOTGELD NOTES

By late 1922, inflation was racing out of control in Germany.  The German government could not print money fast enough to keep up with the ever soaring prices.  Companies started printing their own money in order to pay workers.  Municipalities also issued their own currency to provide cash for the local economy.  All of this made inflation worse by increasing the money supply.  We offer sets of these full-sized inflation notgeld notes, ranging in value from 100 Marks to billions (milliarden) of Marks, dated 1922 or 1923. Every lot is different.

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NAZI GERMAN CURRENCY

The following notes were used in Nazi Germany throughout World War II and remained legal tender until 1948.  The notes bear two dates: the date the note was first authorized, and the date the issuing bank was authorized to issue currency. Unlike coins, the date is not the year the note was printed.  These Reichsbank notes were supposedly backed by gold.  



The 50 Reichsmark was the first note issued after Adolf Hitler came to power.  The note is dated March 30, 1933, which is one week after Hitler assumed control over Germany. It continued to be issued until 1945, always with the same date.  It features the portrait and watermark of 19th century Prussian politician and banker David Hansemann.  The back features a portrait of Mercury and two small children.



The 20 Reichsmark note dated 1929 portrays Ernst Werner Siemens, the 19th century German industralist and inventor who founded the Siemens A.G. which has expanded into a multi-national company producing a wide range products. The back features children holding tools and a worker carrying a hammer.  It has a watermark of Siemans at the left and an embosed seal near the lower left corner.  The note continued in circulation throughout World War II.
The 10 Reichsmark depicts Albrecht Thaer, a 19th Century German agriculturalist who applied scientific principles to agriculture and set up one of the first agricultural colleges.  The back features two children and a woman carrying a sickle.  The note is dated January 22, 1929 and was issued until 1945..  It has a watermark of Thaer at the right and an embosed seal near the lower left corner.

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HIGH GRADE NAZI GERMAN 5 REICHMARK NOTE FEATURES HITLER YOUTH  

Nazi Germany introduced this 5 Reichmark note in 1942 to replace the silver 5 Reichsmark coins which were disappearing from circulation due to hoarding.  The front of the note features a German young man, along with a small eagle and swastika. The back depicts a woman with a sickle and a man with a wood plane, representing farming and industry.   Between them is a vignette of the Brunswick Cathedral and the Brunswick Lion statue.  The Lion was commissioned by Henry the Lion about 1166AD.  The statue is the oldest, preserved large sculpture from the Middle Ages north of the Alps. The note measures 140x70mm and is brown.  The left side features a watermark of the numeral "5".

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WORLD WAR II GERMAN MILITARY CURRENCY 

Wehrmacht military currency was used by Nazi Germany to pay its troops during the final months of World War II.  The notes are dated September 15, 1944. Soldiers were paid in military scrip while in transit. When a soldier arrived at his post the notes could be converted to the local currency or occupation notes. The notes all have similar designs. The front includes a small Eagle holding a Swastika and the inscription "VERRECHNUNGSSEN FÜR DIE DEUTSCHE WEHRMACHT" (Clearing notes for German Armed Forces) The back of the note includes regulations and instructions on how to use the notes.  They are interesting and historic pieces of World War II military history.

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FIRST BANKNOTE OF EAST GERMANY

On June 20, 1948 the Nazi era Reichsmark and Rentenmark were abolished and a new currency introduced in the Western occupied zones of Germany.  The Soviets rook the currency reform as an economic threat to Soviet occupied portions of Germany.  In retaliation, on June 24 the Soviets cut off all access from the western zones into Berlin, thus starting the Berlin Blockade.  The Western Allies responding with the Berlin Airlift.  For eleven months all the supplies needed in West Berlin were transported by airplane into the city.  Though the Soviets claimed to be surprised by the currency reform, they were prepared as the new currency for East Germany was introduced on July 24, 1948.  The new notes had simple designs featuring the denomination, engraved borders and were printed on watermarked paper. Officially East Germany Marks were exchangeable on par with the West German Marks. In reality they were not exchangeable for any currency and traded on the black market at a large discount. This green 50 Mark note was part of the first series of notes for East Germany.  It is dated 1948 and measures 171 x 87mm.

 

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SCARCE, FINAL BANKNOTES OF EAST GERMAN NOTES 

These scarce 200 and 500 Mark East German notes are rarely seen in any collections. They are the highest denominations ever printed by East Germany and were some of the last banknotes ever printed by East Germany. The notes were dated 1985, however the East German government collapsed before the notes were released into general circulation. After the collapse of East Germany the notes were put into storage in old Nazi bunkers. A very limited number of notes were "liberated" from the bunkers before the German government destroyed all of the remaining notes. The front of 200 Mark note features a family standing in front of a government apartment complex. The back pictures a group of young school children and their teacher.  The 500 Mark pictures the East German Arms and the Staatsrat building in Berlin. 

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GREAT BRITAIN 5 POUNDS WINSTON CHURCHILL POLYMER NOTE

Winston Churchill is featured on the back this recent 5 Pounds note of Great Britain.  Churchill, who led Britain through much of World War II, is considered one of the greatest statesmen of all time and is the only British Prime Minister to win a Nobel Prize in literature.  Next to Churchill on the note is an image of Westminster, Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) and an image of his Nobel Prize. Beneath him is his famous quote that he gave at the House of Commons upon assuming leadership of the government in 1940 "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."  The front depicts Queen Elizabeth and the Bank of England building.  The note has a window depicting the Queen and Big Ben as well as a holographic image that changes from "Five" to "Pounds" as the note is shifted.  It is an impressive note for an impressive statesman. 

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HELL BANK NOTES

Hell Bank notes, also called "Spirit Money" are used in funeral ceremonies in many far-eastern countries to provide money and goods in the afterlife for the dead person.  The term "hell" just designates the place where the dead go, and does not carry the negative connotations that it does in the Christian world. A wide variety of notes have been produced, and make an interesting and inexpensive area to collect.  We assembled a collection of 10 different Hell Bank Notes from China and Vietnam. It includes both traditional style notes exchangeable for goods in the afterlife and modern,  multi-color currency style notes. 

For further information about Hell Bank Notes visit
Satan's Own Bankers: Chinese Hell Money

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