WORLD PAPER MONEY
BY COUNTRY A to H

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CAUCASIAN LEOPARD ON 2024 ABKHAZIA BANKNOTE 

bkhazia is the northwestern portion of Georgia. With Russian military support it declared independence 2008.  Its independence is only recognized by Russia and a four of its allies.  This colorful orange 2024 10 Aspers banknote from Abkhazia features a Caucasian Leopard and its pawprint on the front.  The back includes an ancient bronze axe and a QR code.  The note includes a watermark of a Caucasian Leopard and images only visible under ultra-violet light.

AFGHANISTAN 10,000 AFGHANI BANKNOTE 

The 10,000 Afghani was the highest denomination ever issued by Afghanistan.  It was needed due to severe inflation due to the Afghan civil war, in which various warlords and the Taliban were fighting for control of the country.  Starting in 1993, various warlords claiming to represent the Afghan government contracted with banknote printers in Russia and the United Kingdom to print the notes.  Of course, this only made inflation worse.  In 1996 Taliban declared them worthless, however they continued to circulate in many areas of the nation until the notes were replaced in 2002 with new banknotes after the American invasion of Afghanistan. The front features the Friday Mosque in Herat (Masjid-i Jami') and the seal of the Afghanistan Bank which an image of an ancient Greco-Bactrian Tetradrachm minted circa 171-179BC and two cornucopias spilling out coins.  The back depicts the 11th century Qala-e-Bost Gateway.  It is a beautiful banknote issued during a troubled time in a troubled nation.

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BANKNOTE 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 small, low denomination notes to help alleviate the coin shortage. 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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BLUEBIRD ON BEAUTIFUL BERMUDA BILL

The Bermuda 2 Dollar note features a colorful Eastern Bluebird surrounded by red frangipani flowers on the front.  Sailboats and a butterfly are above the bird and a stature of Queen Elizabeth II is beneath the bird.  The back includes the Royal Navy Dockyard Clock Tower and the statue of Neptune at the Bermuda Maritime Museum.   A thick Optiks security thread featuring a map of Bermuda runs through the note.  The attractive vertical note is dated 2009 and measures 136 x 69mm.

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SCARCE BANKNOTE FROM SHORT-LIVED BIAFRA

After years of persecution by the Muslim majority who controlled Nigeria, the oil-rich and heavily Christian south-eastern portion of the country declared itself the independent Republic of Biafra in May, 1967. The independence was to be short-lived however. After over two years of bloody civil war, in which as many as two million people died, Biafra was forced to surrender to Nigeria in January of 1970.  In 1968 Biafra contracted to have banknotes printed by Casa de Moeda in Portugal.  The undated 1 Pound note is green and features a small palm tree on the front and the Biafran arms on the back.

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HAMMER & SICKLE BANKNOTES FROM BULGARIA

Following World War II Bulgaria became one the most loyal and closely allied satellite states of the Soviet Union.  In 1952 Bulgaria did a major currency reform, doing a 100 to 1 revaluation of the Lev and releasing new banknotes and coins, which were all dated 1951.  The 3 and 5 Leva notes featured the Soviet hammer and sickle on one side of the note, and the Bulgarian coat of arms on the other.  Both notes have a watermark the includes the hammer and sickle and initials of the Bulgarian National Bank.  The notes were printed in Russia.

Item PM-BG-SET2 BULGARIA 3 & 5 LEVA NOTES, 1951, P81 & P82 UNC. $5.00

Also see:
FIRST COINS OF COMMUNIST BULGARIA : 7 COIN SET 1 - 50 STOTINIKI, 1951-59

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CANADIAN "DEVIL'S FACE" BANKNOTES

Canada introduced a new series of banknotes in 1954 depicting Queen Elizabeth.  Her portrait was based on a photograph taken in 1951.  Sometime after the notes were released, some people with imaginative eyes reported seeing a "devil's face" behind the Queen's ear in her hair. They saw two bushy eyebrows, a hooked nose, and a pointy chin, likening it to the Devil.  Newspapers picked up the story and conspiracy theories spread about foreign or occult influences infiltrating the government.  In reality it was an unfortunately coincidence caused by a faithful rendition from the original photograph.  But once the devil was seen on the notes, it was hard for many to unsee it.   By 1957 the new plates were re-engraved, darkening the area of the Queen's hair where the "devil" was located, thus exorcising the devil from Canadian banknotes.

Also see:

THE FAMOUS GERMAN "VAMPIRE NOTE"  10,000 MARK 1922 

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MULTI-LINGUAL NOTE OF CHINA FEATURES POTALA PALACE IN TIBET

Mao Zedong is featured on the front of this 2005 dated 50 Yuan note from China. The 170 x 50m note also includes a watermark of Mao.  The back depicts the Potala Palace in Lhasa in Tibet. It was the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas and the seat of the Tibet government from 1649 to 1959. It has been a museum since then and is a World Heritage Site.  The 13-story building contains over 1000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues.  Also on the back is the denomination written out in Mandarin Pinyin, Mongol, Tibetan, Uighur and Zhuang as well as English. 

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CHINA 2025 YEAR OF THE SNAKE COIN AND BANKNOTE

China released a 2025 dated bi-metallic 10 Yuan coin and a colorful 2024 20 Yuan polymer banknote to commemorate the Year of the Snake.  The 27mm coin depicts a traditional artistic paper cutting of a snake, a palace lantern, and plants the reverse.  The denomination surrounded by an intricate etched design is on the obverse. The large number 10 contains latent images, which change from Western to Chinese characters as the coin is moved.  The 20 Yuan note features a stylized snake, the denomination in SPARK optical and a clear window on the front.  The back features three children hanging a Spring Festival banner in front of Shanxi residents and legends in Chinese, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur and Zhang.


ALSO SEE:
AUSTRALIA 2025 YEAR OF THE SNAKE SILVER DOLLAR

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MUSEUM OF GOLD ON COLOMBIA 20 GOLD PESOS NOTE

The back of this Colombia 1983 20 Pesos Oro (Gold Pesos) note depicts golden objects from the Museum of Gold in Bogata.  The museum houses the world's largest collection of pre-Colombian gold relics.  The front depicts Francisco José de Caldas, a Colombian lawyer, scientist, military engineer and inventor who was killed by the Spanish in 1816 during Colombia's war for independence. Though the note is denominated in Gold Pesos, the note was not was not backed by gold and within a few years was virtually worthless. The note measures 140x70mm.

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CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA $10 NOTE

This Confederate 10 Dollar note 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 back features the denomination in words and numerals.  It is approximately 7" x 3" (180 x 80mm). The notes are hand signed and hand numbered.

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FIRST BANKNOTES NAZI GERMAN 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 parts of Yugoslavia were divided between Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and their client regimes.   Croatia was nominally ruled by an Italian prince who never set foot in the country.  Serbia directly controlled by the German military.   Yugoslavia was reunited after World War II under communist rule.  Ironically, after the collapse of communism in 1991, it again broke-up along ethnic lines. 
     From Croatia we have the first notes issued by the Nazi puppet state, the 100 and 500 Kuna dated May 26, 1941, just seven weeks after the invasion.  The 100 Kuna features the Croatian coat of arms and is 150 x 80mm.  The 500 Kuna three sheaves of wheat and is 160 x 84mm.  The notes were printed in Germany Giesecke & Devrient, a private company which is still a major banknote printer.

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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 5,000,000 Dinara note dated 1993.   The note features the Knin fortress on a hill on one side, and the Serbian arms on the other.  The Croatian 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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CUBA’S CRAZY CURRENCY SYSTEM

In 1985 Cuba introduced a complicated foreign exchange system, with special foreign exchange certificates that could be used to purchase "luxury" items (meaning almost everything other than rice and beans) that were not available to most Cubans who were paid in regular Cuban Pesos.  Four different types of certificates were issued.  The fronts of the notes all had similar designs, with the emblem of the National Bank of Cuba at the left, the denomination at the center and the type of currency (A,B,C or D) at the right.  The "A" Pesos are red and were for visitors from communist block nations and had an exchange rate of 1 Peso = .9 Rubles. Historic Cuban fortresses were on the backs.  The "B" Pesos are green and were for visitors from nations with free market currencies. They had an exchange rate of 1 Peso = 1 United States Dollar. They had the same reverse designs as the "A" series.  The blue "C" series were for Cubans with access to U.S. dollars, Cubans selling precious metals to the government, certain officials and foreign nationals living in Cuba.  They had an exchange rate of 1 Peso = 1 U.S. Dollar. The back has blank lines for the signature of the payee and the date of issue.  They could not be transferred or exchanged back into dollars and expired after five years. The light brown "D" series were for foreign students who were allowed foreign exchange at the rate of 1 Peso = 1 U.S. Dollar.  Like the "C" series the back has lines for the signature of the payee, and date of issue and they could not be transferred or exchanged and expired after five years.  As might be expected the cumbersome system lent itself to graft.  In 1993 the U.S. Dollar was made legal tender and in 1994 the system was abandoned and a new system based on the Cuban Convertible Peso was introduced.

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NEW CARIBBEAN GULDEN NOTES

After many years of delays, the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten has finally released its first banknotes.  The bank is the successor to the Bank of the Netherlands Antilles.  The fronts of the new notes feature vibrant sea life, while the backs depicts important landmarks on both countries.  The notes include many advanced security features, including 3D moving stripes, optically variable ink, watermark and a windowed security thread. The notes were printed by Crane Currency.    The 10 Gulden features an Angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus) on the front and the Klein Curacao lighthouse on the back.  The 20 Gulden has two Spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari ) on the front.  The back depicts a Pelican in flight with Simpson Bay Lagoon and Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten in the background.  The airport is famous for its landing pattern which takes jets low over the beachgoers on Maho Beach. 
 We expect to have the coins soon. Contact us if interested.

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MAGNIFICENT 1910 IMPERIAL GERMAN BATTLESHIP BANKNOTE

This beautiful, large, old 1910 German 100 Mark pictures a seated figure of Germania holding a sword and shield under an oak tree.  In the background three battle ships steam by.  At her feet are symbols of industry, farming and commerce.  The front features the heads of Mercury and Ceres and the German imperial crown.  The over-sized note is 207mm x 102 mm (8.25” x 4”) and includes a watermark of German Emperor Wilhelm I.  It is an impressive old note at a moderate price.

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GERMAN EMPIRE COIN & CURRENCY SETS

In 1871 Otto Von Bismarck united the 26 independent German States under Prussian King Wilhelm I, forming the Second Reich, also known as the German Empire. During its 47 years of existence, the German Empire became the industrial, technological, and scientific giant of Europe and the world's third largest economy.  It created a colonial empire and possessed the world strongest army.  The Empire disintegrated as a result of Germany's defeat in World War I.  This six-coin set includes the silver 1 Mark, which was minted from 1873 until 1916; the silver 1/2 Mark, minted from 1905 to 1919; the copper-nickel 5 and 10 Pfennig and the copper 1 and 2 Pfennig, which were minted from 1874 to 1916.  All six coins feature the Imperial German Eagle on the reverse and the denomination on the obverse.  The coins grade Fine or Extra Fine.   The set of 3 banknotes consist of the 20 Mark, 100 Mark and 1000 Mark notes dated between 1908 and 1914. The blue 20 Mark featured a crowned imperial German Eagle at the upper right and measures 136x90mm.  The blue 100 Mark includes a large crowned imperial German Eagle on the front.  The back features two women holding a large medallion depicting a woman's head. The large note measures 160 x105mm (6.3" x 4.1"). The brown 1000 Mark note features two allegorical women representing seafaring and agriculture flanking the imperial German arms. The over-sized note is 187mm x 110mm (7.3” x 4.3”). It is printed on special ridged hemp paper containing blue silk threads.  When first issued the three notes could be redeemed for over 12 ounces of gold on demand!   After the start of World War I Germany halted the redemption of banknotes for gold - but kept on printing banknotes.  By 1922 the notes were virtually worthless due to inflation.  It is an impressive and historic currency set.

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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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LAST BANKNOTE OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE  

This attractive 50 Mark note is the last note of the German Empire. It is dated June 23, 1919, some seven months after Germany's defeat in World War I and less than 7 weeks before the signing of the new constitution in Weimar which formally ended the German Empire and ushered in the weak and chaotic Weimar Republic. The large, green note measures 153x102mm and features an allegorical figure of a woman against a starry background.

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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 a century old.

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SCHLESWIG PLEBISCITE NOTE FROM FLENSBURG

After World War I, control of the Schleswig-Holstein region was disputed between Denmark and Germany.  Historically, control of various portions of the region had alternated between Denmark and Germany over the centuries.  It was decided to hold two plebiscites and let the inhabitants of the regions decide which country they wished to join.  The first plebiscite held in the northern portion elected to become part of Denmark. The southern portion elected to join Germany.  The town of Flensburg is at the northern end of the southern portion and a vast majority of its population was of German ancestry.  Shortly after the plebiscite, Flensburg issued this 25 Pfennig note showing the Danes having lost a tug-of-war with the Germans and the Germans welcoming them.  The date of the plebiscite, March 14, 1920 appears above the Danes.  The reverse consists of text.  It is an unusual note reflecting a vote.

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LOW AND HIGH DENOMINATION GERMAN MUNICIPAL NOTES

Germany’s hyperinflation is clearly demonstrated in these municipal emergency banknotes.  The low denomination notes issued around the end of World War I were needed because of a shortage of small change. The second issue, done just a few years later in 1923 was needed because inflation was so bad that cities printed their own money to pay their workers.  From the City of Frankfurt is a 25 Pfennig dated November 1, 1919. It would buy about 1 loaf of bread.  A view of the city is on the back.  The Frankfurt 100 million Mark note is dated September 28, 1923.  It would buy about 2 loaves of bread.  The back of the note depicts the Imperial Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew on the left and St. Paul’s Church on the right.  Both were severely damaged in World War II.  From the City of Marburg is a 50 Pfennig note dated between 1918 and 1921, shortly before the end of World War I.  It depicts the Town Hall and St. George’s Column (now a fountain) on the front and the city emblem on the back. The Marburg 20 Milliarden Mark (20 Billion Mark) note is dated October 27, 1923.  It pictures St. Elizabeth’s Church and a monument on the front and is blank on the back.  They are fascinating historical symbols of Germany’s hyperinflation.

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 ST. MARTIN'S  EVE FEAST NOTE FROM NORDHAUSEN

St. Martin's Day, also called Old Halloween, takes place November 11.  It marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter.  In Germany it was celebrated with feasting, bonfires, processions and small gifts for children. The back of this 1921 dated 25 Pfennig note from the German city of Nordhausen depicts three men drinking and feasting on a traditional St. Martin's Goose along with two St. Martin candles, a cooked goose and fish on platters. Below is a poem which roughly translates as "With a sip of Korn (a strong liquor produced in Nordhausen), A slice of meat, That’s the way the Nordhauser people celebrate with a St. Martin's goose feast".  The front of the note features the Nordhausen coat of arms.  The colorful note is 84x55mm.

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ATTRACTIVE AND COLORFUL GERMAN NOTGELD NOTES

These attractive, colorful small (most less than 4 inches - 90cm long) were issued by communities throughout Germany during and after World War I.  They quickly became a popular with collectors and by 1921 many thousand different types were produced.  They have a wide variety of themes, including fairy tales, local history, monuments, and political satire.  Every lot is different, however there may be duplication between lots.  They are a fun and fascinating collectible and remarkably inexpensive considering they are over 100 years old!

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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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EMERGENCY BANKNOTE FROM THE CITY OF GOTHA 

Because of the severe inflation that followed World War I, prices were rising faster than the German government could print money.  Many towns and companies resorted to printing their own currency.  This 100 Mark note was issued by the City of Gotha, Germany.  It is dated September 30, 1922.  It is a simple, uniface note that pictures a bishop from the town’s arms. 

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THE FAMOUS GERMAN "VAMPIRE NOTE" 

This large ( 180 x 100mm - approx. 8” x 5”) 10,000 Mark note dated January 19, 1922 is often called the "Vampire Note"  If you turn the note sideways, look carefully and have a good imagination you will see a vampire on the neck of the German.  The nose of the vampire is pointed towards the neck of the man.  This was an allusion to the heavy reparations that Germany had to pay France following World War I. It  represented France sucking the lifeblood out of Germany. 
Also see:

CANADIAN "DEVIL'S FACE" BANKNOTES: $1 & $2 1954 P66 & P67

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POPULAR GERMAN 100,000 MARK INFLATION NOTE

This 100,000 Mark note dated February 1, 1923 is one of the most popular of the German inflation notes.  The large (190 x 115mm) note features a cut from Hans Holbein the Younger's portrait "The Merchant Georg Gisze".  At the time the painting was done in 1532 Georg Gisze was a prominent Hanseatic merchant who managed his family's trading office in London. Some sources indicate the portrait was done for his betrothed who lived in Danzig (Gdansk), as they probably had never met.  German painter Han Holbein the Younger had a successful career in London, with commissions from Sir Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Anne Boleyn and as a court painter of Henry VIII.  The painting is now in the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.  The back of the brown, black and lilac note features the denomination within guilloche patterns.  It is an historic note from the beginning of the German hyperinflationary period. We have the note in both circulated and Uncirculated condition

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GERMAN SET OF 9 GERMAN NOTES 1 MARK - 2 MILION MARK 1920-1923INFLATION ERA NOTE SET

This set of nine banknotes issued by the German government vividly illustrates the 1920-1923 hyperinflation.  This set includes the 1 and 2 Mark dated March 1, 1920. The notes were needed because all silver 1 Mark coins had disappeared from circulation.  The large-size (162 x 108mm) 100 Mark note is dated November 1, 1920 and depicts the head of the Bamberg Horseman.  It was worth about $1.50 when first issued.  Also included is the 500 Mark dated July 7, 1922;  1000 Mark dated September 15, 1922; 5000 Mark dated December 2, 1922 and 20,000 Mark dated February 20, 1923. The magnificent, large 100,000 Mark is dated February 1, 1923, features a cut from Hans Holbein the Younger's portrait "The Merchant Georg Gisze".  The last note in the collection is the 2 Million Mark note dated August 9, 1923.  It was worth less than a dollar when introduced and would be virtually worthless in less than a month.
The notes grade Fine to Almost Uncirculated.  It is an impressive and historic collection showing what happens when government spending gets out of control.

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GERMAN NATIONAL RAILWAY CURRENCY

In 1923, Germany experienced what was then the world’s worst inflation. Prices increased hourly and the government could not print currency fast enough to meet the demand.  In order to pay employees and suppliers, the Deutsche Reichsbahn (the German National Railways) printed its own currency.  Unlike most of the corporate or municipal issues of the period, the Railway notes were accepted throughout most of Germany. In order to pay workers and suppliers notes were issued from the company headquarters in Berlin as well as regional railway offices throughout the country. It is interesting to see how the denominations increased from week to week.  In German Milliarden is 1 Billion in English. Many notes are printed only on one side.  These sell out quickly, alternates appreciated.

NOTES ISSUED FROM DEUTSCHE REICHBAHN BERLIN HEADQUARTERS:

NOTE ISSUED BY THE FRANKFURT AM MAIN REGIONAL RAILWAY OFFICE

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GERMANY LOCAL INFLATION NOTGELD NOTES  

By the summer of 1923 inflation roared totally out of control in Germany.  The federal government couldn't print money fast enough, so municipalities and companies printed their own money to pay workers and buy supplies. Of course, only increased the money supply making inflation even worse. These notes are known as inflation notgeld (emgergency money).   In most cases the notes would only be accepted in the communities they were issued, and then, sometimes only reluctantly.   The notes clearly demonstrate what happens when governments print too much money to cover their expenses.
 We offer selections of this inflation notgeld.  Most are denominated between 100,000 Mark and 100 Milliarden (100 billion) Mark and most date between July and November 1923.   Most are full sized notes.  Some have attractive designs, others have simple designs and are printed on one side only reflecting the rush to produce the notes.   Every lot is different, though there may be some duplication between lots.

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RARE 1923 GERMAN GOLD MARK NOTE

During Germany’s spiraling 1923 hyperinflation some organizations issued bank notes denominated in both gold and the United States Dollar (which was tied to gold at $20.67 per troy ounce).  Thhis note was issued by the Association of the South German Textile Employers based in Hof in an attempt to pay their workers a fair wage at a time when money quickly became virtually worthless. It is denominated at 42 Pfennig-Gold = 1/10 Dollar.  It is dated November 26, 1923, shortly after German introduced the Rentenmark in an effort to bring inflation under control and Germany was still in the midst of monetary chaos.   

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CLICK HERE to see our exhibit on the coins and notes of the German Hyperinflation

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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. The Reichsbank was first authorized to issue cufrrency on August 20, 1924.  Unlike coins, the date is not the year the note was printed. These Reichsbank notes were supposedly backed by gold, but could not be redeemed for gold.

NAZI GERMAN 20 REICHSMARK NOTE FEATURES AUSTRIAN MAIDEN  

NAZI GERMAN 5 REICHSMARK NOTE FEATURES HITLER YOUTH  

NAZI GERMAN 1 & 2 RENTENMARK NOTES   

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EMERGENCY WWII REICHSBANK NOTE

This German 20 Reichsmark note was issued by the German Reichsbank in Sudetenland and Lower Silesia at the very end of World War II.  Sudetenland and Lower Silesia were areas of Czechoslovakia and Poland had been forcibly incorporated into Germany at the start of World War II. Because of the advancing allied armies, shipments of regular Germany currency were no longer available from Berlin.  The note is dated April 28, 1945, less than two weeks before German surrendered.  The tan and brown note is 150 × 80mm.

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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 FUR 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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BETHEL FOUNDATION CURRENCY FROM GERMANY

The Bethel Foundation (Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel) was founded in 1867 in Prussia to care for epileptics.  Its mission has expanded to care for mentally ill and other challenged people.  It is headquartered in the Bethel district of Bielefeld and has facilities in eight German states serving 200,000 people per year.  It issued its first currency in 1908.  After World War II it was the only private institution in West Germany authorized to issue its own currency.  The notes are accepted at Bethel facilities and selected merchants.   This four-note set of Bethel currency includes the 50 Pfennig, 2, 5 and 20 Mark notes dated from 1957 to 1973.  In 2002 the notes were replaced with Euro denominated currency. 

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GIBRALTAR RECREATES OLD BANKNOTE

To commemorate World Tourism in 2018 the Government of Gibraltar created an official replica of the 10 Shilling note of 1934.  The note was sold by the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau for £2.50.   It could be redeemed for 50 Pence (the equivalent of 10 Shillings) in 2018.  The front features the Rock of Gibraltar.  The arms of Gibraltar featuring a castle is on the back, along with the legend "THIS BANKNOTE CAN BE REDEEMED IN GIBRALTAR IN THE YEAR 2018 FOR 50 PENCE".  The note is 130 × 75 mm.  It is an attractive and the most affordable Gibraltar banknote.

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2025 FLORIDA GOLDBACK NOTES

The popular Goldback series continued in 2025 with the introduction of the Florida Goldback. Goldback notes are a voluntary local currency made of 24 karat gold! Each wafer-thin note has a protective plastic coating. They are issued in increments of 1/1000 troy ounce of gold in order to allow for small purchases. The 1 Goldback note contains 1/1000 troy ounce of gold and measures 66x117mm.  The notes are printed on one side only, with intricate multi-color allegorical designs. 

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PREVIOUS 1 GOLDBACK NOTES  

Goldback Aurum notes are a voluntary local currency made of 24 karat gold! Each wafer-thin note is coated with a protective plastic coating so it can be circulated without the gold tearing. They are issued in increments of 1/1000 troy ounce of gold in order to allow for small purchases. Each 1 Goldback note contains 1/1000 troy ounce of gold and measures 66x117mm.  The notes are printed on one side only, with intricate multi-color allegorical style designs. 

The first goldback was the Utah 1 Goldback released  in 2019.  It features Prudence as a Native American seated on a sandstone rock next to an ancient bristle-cone pine tree.

The Nevada 1 Goldback depicts Charity patterned after a depiction of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Austin, Nevada.  Catholicism is Nevada’s most dominant religion and St. Augustine’s is the oldest Catholic Church building in the state. Like all Goldback designs, the art contains many levels of symbolism.  Some major symbols of Charity featured include: the Sierra Nevada Lily, which is in the container below Mary’s feet to the right; the Mary Magdalene Rose, in the container on the left; cherubs crowning Mary and Burning Hearts to either side of her; Charity’s lit candle in her hand, and Nevada’s sun, rising over the mountains seen through the window behind her. The window sill and the columns on each side of the design, are each inspired from St. Mary of the Mountains Catholic Cathedral in Virginia City.


The New Hampshire 1 Goldback depicts Grace as an Abenaki Native American woman wearing traditional dress and beads in front of her wigwam.. Below is a River Otter representing resourcefulness and finding joy in the moment with both attributes being key parts of grace. Also incorporated into the design are elements ofthe Jewish Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, being celebrated alongside the Thanksgiving Holiday. These include the Shofar trumpet next to the wigwam door, the pumpkin, corn, beans, chestnuts, and honeycomb represented by the beehive in the tree.

The Wyoming 1 Goldback features Reverentia, or Reverence as a  Shoshone woman wearing a traditional buckskin dress.  A Bald Eagle is perched on her arm.  In the forground are sunflowers.  In the background is a bison and the formation known as Devil's Tower.

South Dakota became the fifth state to have a Goldback note. The  South Dakota 1 Goldback note depicts Pax or Peace as a Lakota Sioux woman in traditional regalia performing the hoop dance.  Also in the design is Bear Butte, a sacred mountain also known as Mato Paha, an eagle, buffalo, wolf, a traditional Cancega drum and a Prairie Crocus. 

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BRITISH ARMED FORCES CURRENCY

To try to control black market activities and currency speculation where British troops were stationed overseas Great Britain paid troops with a special currency called British Armed Forces Special Vouchers. The notes were only to be used in military canteens.  They were first issued for use in occupied Germany following World War II.   The set of three 1 Pound notes, consisting of the Second Series 1 Pound note which was introduced in Germany in 1948, the Third Series 1 Pound note which was briefly used during the Suez Crisis in 1956 and the Fourth Series1 Pound note, which printed in 1962 at the height of the Cold War. 

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GUATEMALA NOTE COMMEMORATES 100th ANNIVERSARY OF QUETZAL CURRENCY  

In 2024 Guatemala recently introduced an attractive circulating 1 Quetzal note to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Quetzal monetary unit. The front depicts a colorful Quetzal bird, the national bird of Guatemala, an impressive gold holographic device, the portrait of General José María Orellana and the Tikal Temple. General Orellana became President in 1921 in a coup sponsored by the United Fruit Company.  He implemented the currency reform that introduced the Quetzal. He also ruthlessly suppressed strikes by Guatemalan workers against the United Fruit Company.  He died under mysterious circumstances in 1926 one day after declaring martial law. The back of the note depicts the Bank of Guatemala building.  The note also incorporates ultraviolet images and front/back registration images of the Mayan glyph for the numeral one and the Guatemalan flag. It is an impressive note at an attractive price. The note is 156 x 67mm.

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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 8 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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WORLD WAR II JAPANESE MILITARY CURRENCY FOR HONG KONG

Japan issued this 100 Yen note for use in Hong Kong in the closing months of World War II. It was the highest denomination military currency issued by Japan. The note, apparently printed in Hong Kong, utilized the basic design of the 1944 Japanese homeland 100 Yen note, however with modified legends on the back and the front has an overprint that translates as "Military Currency". The note pictures the Yumedono Pavilion, or Hall of Dreams.  It was constructed in 739 as a monument to the semi-legendary Prince Shotoku Taishi on the site of the prince's palace.  The prince is pictured to the right within a green circle. Because civilians were forced to accept were forced to accept the unbacked Military Yen it cost the Japanese government virtually nothing to purchase whatever they wanted.  The note large sized note is 163 x 94mm and is Uncirculated.

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FOR MORE PAPER MONEY, PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING:

World Paper Money by Country I to Z

INDIAN HUNDI NOTES

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USA

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Email: orders@joelscoins.com

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