WORLD WAR I REMEMBERED 
2014 to 2018 marks the
100th Anniversary of World War I, also known as
"The Great War" or the "The War to End All Wars". The war
and its aftermath created numerous coin and currency issues.
Old empires were swept away and new nations
created. The lands of the former
Austro-Hungarian
Empire went to the form the nations of
Austria,
Czechoslovakia,
Hungary and
with parts going to create
Poland
and
Yugoslavia.
The collapse of the Czarist government of
Russia
brought on by the Bolshevik Revolution allowed
Finland,
Estonia,
Latvia,
Lithuania and
Poland to gain
independence. Other portions of the Russian Empire also
gained temporary independence
before coming back under Russian control. From the
lands of the
Ottoman
Empire:
Turkey,
Iraq,
Syria,
Lebanon,
Palestine (now
Israel, Jordan and maybe
someday
an
independent
Palestine),
Kingdom of Hejaz and the Sultanate of Nejd (today
Saudi Arabia), the
Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen,
and the
Arab States of the
Persian Gulf were created. The
financial and political instability that
followed the war helped instigate
World
War II. This page includes a number of historic banknotes and
coins associated with World War I and its aftermath.
THE
BEGINNINGS
GERMAN EMPIRE COIN
SET INCLUDES SILVER

In
1871 Otto Von Bismark united the German States under Prussian King
Wilhelm I, forming the Second Reich, also known as the German Empire.
The Empire disintegrated as a result of 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.
Item
DE-EMP-SET6 GERMANY EMPIRE 6 COIN SET 1
PFENNIG - 1 MARK 1874-1919 F-XF $24.00
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
two women holding a large portrait of a woman's head. The note measures
160x105mm. It is an unusual
"multi-government"
notes are impressive pieces of historical currency.
Item
PM-DE-100M-EMP GERMAN EMPIRE 100 MARK 1908
RED SEAL P33 F-VF
$4.00
Item
PM-DE-100M-REP GERMAN REPUBLIC 100 MARK 1908
(1918-1922) GREEN SEAL P34 F-VF
$4.00I
1910
GERMAN EMPIRE BANKNOTE SET 
In 1910 Germany released
four beautiful banknotes dated April 21, 1910. The
notes, issued by the Reichsbank were initially backed by
gold. The 20, 50 and 1000 Mark notes copied the designs of
previous issues. The blue 20 Mark featured a German Eagle at
the upper right and measures 136x90mm. The pink and green 50 Mark note
has the head of Germania at the upper right and left corners.
It is 150x100mm. A totally new and very impressive 100 Mark
note was released. The front of the blue note features the
heads of Mercury and Ceres and the German imperial crown. The
back pictures a seated figure of Germania holding a sword under an oak
tree. At her feet are symbols of industry, farming and
commerce, while three battle ships steam by. The over-sized
note is 207mm x 102 mm (8.25” x 4”) and includes a watermark of German
Emperor Wilhelm I. The brown 1000 Mark notes
features the allegorical figures of navigation and agriculture flanking
the imperial German arms. The over-sized note is 187mm x 110mm (7.3” x
4.3”) and is printed on special ridged hemp paper containing blue silk
threads. The notes have red Reichsbank seals. All
together the four notes would have been equivalent to almost 13.5
ounces of gold! Unfortunately, the Reichsbank stopped
converting notes to gold when World War I broke out, and within a few
years the notes lost all their value due to inflation.
Item
PM-DE-1910 GERMANY SET OF 4 NOTES,
20-1000 MARKS 1910 P40,41,42 & P44 Fine-VF $19.75
CZARIST
AND BOLSHEVIK 5 RUBLE NOTES OF RUSSIA

World
War I brought the fall Russian Empire. Initially the new
Russian governments issued banknotes utilizing the same date and
designs as the Czarist issues, making only a change in the serial
number. The beautiful blue and pink Russian 5 Ruble note
dated 1909
was first issued by the government of Czar Nicholas II. When
first issued it was equivalent to 3.87 grams of gold, which is worth
about $160 today! The large vertical format note is 99mm x
158mm. The design incorporates the Romanov Imperial Eagle on
both sides. The notes issued by the Czarist government had a full
serial number consisting of two letters and six digits. After
the fall of the Czar in 1917 the notes continued to be issued by both
the Provisional Russian Government and the Bolsheviks, still dated
1909, but with only a series number consisting of two letters and 3
digits instead of a serial number. They are large,
impressive. large pieces of historical currency from a turbulent time
in Russian history.
Item
PM-RU-5R-CZAR RUSSIA-CZARIST 5 RUBLES 1909
serial number P10 F-VF
$6.00
Item
PM-RU-5R-BOLSH RUSSIA-BOLSHEVIK 5 RUBLES
1909
series number P35 VF
$5.00
Reduced
size image

THE
WAR YEARS 1914-1918
GERMANY
WORLD WAR I SILVER 1/2 MARK

This
silver 1/2 Mark of the German Empire is from the World War I years of
1914 to 1918. One side has the denomination within an oak
wreath. The other features the crowned German Imperial Eagle.
The 20mm coin is struck in .900 fine silver and contains .0802 troy
ounces of silver. Because the silver coin was extensively
hoarded during the war it is available today in high grade at a
remarkably low price.
Item
DE-1/2M GERMAN EMPIRE 1/2 MARK 1915-18 KM17
XF $4.50
HIGH GRADE WORLD WAR I GERMAN
BANKNOTES
Germany began to issue 1 and 2 Mark notes shortly after the start of
World War I. They were needed because of a serious coin shortage
caused by Germans hoarding silver coins (turned out to be a smart move
for them considering the inflation that followed the war).
The notes are all dated August 12, 1914. The notes continued
to be printed until 1920, all with the same 1914 date and same basic
design. The later issues however had an underprinted pattern on the
front and back to make them more difficult to counterfeit.
Item
PM-DE-1M(17)
GERMANY 1 MARK 1914 note P51 1917 issue
green underprint on back AU-UNC
$3.00
Item
PM-DE-2M(17)
GERMANY 2 MARK 1914 note P54 1917 issue
light red underprint on front and back AU-UNC out
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 note measures 95 x 54mm. 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.
Item
PM-KIEL-50P KIEL, GERMANY 50 PFENNIG NOTE,
JANUARY 1, 1918
UNC.
$3.00
WWI AUSTRIAN POW CAMP
NOTES 
These 10 and 20 Heller notes was issued by 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 the War. The undated notes has the
same design on the front and back, featuring a "modern" Austrian eagle.
The light blue note was issued from about 1916 to 1918. They
measure 110 x 70mm.
Item
PM-AT-POW10 AUSTRIA, ASCHACH POW CAMP 10
HELLER NOTE
AU-UNC. $15.00
Item
PM-AT-POW20 AUSTRIA, ASCHACH POW CAMP 20
HELLER NOTE
AU-UNC. $15.00
WWI
HUNGARIAN WAR BOND

This
large (15.75" x 9.75", 25 x 40cm) bearer bond was issued by the Royal
Hungarian Ministry of Finance on May 12, 1917 for 50 Crowns (Krona).
The bond is written in four languages: Hungarian, German, French and
English. At the time Hungary, as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire,
was engaged in World War I and needed funds to continue its war effort.
Only about 5% of the cost of Hungary's war effort was covered by
regular government revenue (taxes, etc.) Most of the rest came from
issuing bonds or borrowings from the Central Bank. All citizens and
soldiers were expected to purchase bonds to support the war effort. The
bond paid 6% annual interest, tax and duty free. Included with the bond
was a sheet of semi-annual coupons. The bond had no maturity,
but
was callable any time after August 1, 1922. That never
happened. With the defeat and breakup of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire in November 1918 and the enormous level of debt accumulated
during the war, the value of the currency - and the bonds collapsed.
It is an historic World War I bond
that
has never been redeemed.
Item
BND-HU-50KR HUNGARY 50 CROWNS (KRONA) 1917 WAR
BOND VF $10.00
UNCIRCULATED
COIN
FROM
FINLAND’S CIVIL WAR

Finland
was a Russian possession from 1809 until 1917. The collapse
of
the Czarist government in March of 1917 created the opportunity for
Finland to demand independence. Fighting broke out between
various pro-Russian and anti-Russian factions. The
Provisional
Russian Government of Alexander Kerenski, often called the "White
Government" issued these coins for the pro-Russian forces
fighting in Finland. The design is similar to the previous
Czarist issues, featuring the denomination on one side and the Russian
eagle with the Finnish lion on its breast on the other,
however
the Czarist crown was removed from the eagle. In November
1917
the Bolsheviks took over Russia, and on December 6, 1917 Finland gained
independence, thus ending this short-lived series. We have an
Uncirculated copper 1 Penni from this series. The 15mm coin
still
displays its original mint luster, however may have a few minor spots
or dark areas.
Item
FI-1P FINLAND-CIVIL WAR 1 PENNI 1917
KM16 AU-UNC. $5.00
THE
AFTERMATH
RUSSIAN
"BABYLONIAN" NOTES URGES
"WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!
In 1919, after the Bolshevik victory in the Russian Revolution, the
fledgling Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, issued a series
of currency notes with the inscriptions "WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!"
written in seven languages: Russian, German, French, Italian, Greek,
English, Arabic, and Chinese. Because of the linguistic multiplicity,
these notes are known as "Babylonians," a reference to the Biblical
Tower of Babel. The phrase is perhaps the most well-known
line in the "Communist Manifesto", written in 1848 by Karl Mark and
Friedrich Engels. Also featured on the notes is the
hammer and sickle within a wreath. All three notes have a
similar design featuring the inscriptions on one side and the
denomination and date on the other.
Item
PM-RU-1000R-19 RUSSIA 1000 RUBLES NOTE 1919
P104 F "WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!
$15.00
Item
PM-RU-500R-19 RUSSIA 500 RUBLES NOTE 1919
P103
F "WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!
$15.00
Item
PM-RU-250R-19 RUSSIA 250 RUBLES NOTE 1919
P102
F "WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!
$15.00
THE
SHORT-LIVED
GERMAN-AUSTRIA REPUBLIC

Reduced
size images
German-Austria (Deutsch-Osterreich) 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. In a rush to
get needed currency into circulation for this new nation
banknotes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire were overprinted “
DEUTSCH-OSTERREICH".
The notes were issued from 1919 to 1922, though they still had their
original issue date. The red 1 Krone dated 1916 has the denomination
written in 8 different languages! It measures 113 x 68 mm.
The large. blue1000 Kronen note is 192 x 128mm (approximately 7.6" x
5").and has the original 1902 date. The impressive large note is in
Uncirculated condition. The notes were replaced with Austrian
currency in 1922 and demonetized in 1924.
Item PM-AT-1K
GERMAN-AUSTRIA 1 KRONE BANKNOTE (1919) P49 Fine $3.00
Item PM-AT-1000K
GERMAN-AUSTRIA 1,000 KRONEN BANKNOTE (1920) P61 UNC. $19.75
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.
Item PM-AT-NOTx10
10 DIFFERENT AUSTRIAN NOTGELD NOTES VF-UNC. $5.00
Item PM-AT-NOTx25
25 DIFFERENT AUSTRIAN NOTGELD NOTES VF-UNC. $13.00
Item PM-AT-NOTx100
100 DIFFERENT AUSTRIAN NOTGELD NOTES VF-UNC. $55.00
RARE ANTI-SEMITE AUSTRIAN
NOTGELD NOTES
This set of three notes were issued by the Amstetten District
German-Austrian Anti-Semite League. Amstetten is a town is lower
Austria. The set includes the 10, 20 and
50 Heller dated April 16, 1920. It was a period when Austria
was suffering from financial and political instability due to its
defeat in World War I and the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire. Numerous towns and organizations issued their own
currency called notgeld, which means emergency money.. These notes
appear to have been issued in exchange for donations to the
organization. The fronts of the notes show the burning of seven Jewish
newspapers. The backs each have a different anti-Semitic
propaganda message. The 50 Heller includes a swastika on the
back. It is one of the earliest uses of the swastika by the
then emerging Nazi party.
Item PM-AU-ANTISEMITE AMSTETTEN
10, 20 & 50 HELLER
1920 ANTI-SEMITIC NOTES AU-UNC
$49.50
OLD
BANKNOTE FROM VIENNA 

With the collapse of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire
at the end of World
War I the economy of Austria went into a tail-spin. In order
to combat a serious coin shortage, the capital city of Vienna issued
their own currency. This 50 Heller note is dated December 3,
1920 and was good only until December 31, 1921. The small
(75mm x 48mm) note depicts the Vienna city hall (Weiner Rathaus) and
what was then the city’s
coat-of-arms.
Item
PM-VIENNA VIENNA 50 HELLER NOTE, 1920 Fine $3.00
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.
Item
PM-UPAT-20
UPPER AUSTRIA 20 HELLER 1921 PS120 UNC. $3.00
Item
PM-UPAT-50
UPPER AUSTRIA 50 HELLER 1921 PS121 UNC. $3.00
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.
Item
PM-DE-50M-19 GERMANY 50 MARK NOTE 1919 P66
VG-Fine $3.00
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 100 of the 1 Mark notes and
50 of the 2 Mark
note in Uncirculated condition and serial number order..
Item
PM-DE-1+2M GERMANY 1 & 2 MARK NOTES
1920 P58 & P59 AU-UNC.
$5.00
Item
PM-DE-1M20x100 ORIGINAL PACK OF 100 GERMAN 1
MARK NOTES 1920 P58 UNC.
$135.00
Item
PM-DE-2M20x50 ORIGINAL PACK OF 50 GERMAN 2
MARK NOTES 1920 P59 UNC.
$75.00
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.
Item
PM-DE-100M-20-C GERMANY-WEIMAR 100 MARK NOTE,
1920
P69 Fine-VF $3.00
Item
PM-DE-100M-20x10 10 OF THE ABOVE GERMAN 100
MARK NOTES,
1920
P69 VG-VF $15.00
Item
PM-DE-100M-20x100 100 OF THE ABOVE GERMAN
100 MARK NOTES,
1920
P69 VG-VF $75.00
Item
PM-DE-100M-20-U GERMANY-WEIMAR 100 MARK NOTE,
1920
P69b AU-UNC. $10.00
UNCIRCULATED
GERMAN 1000 MARK
NOTE
This Uncirculated German 1000 Mark note is dated September 15,
1922. Some consider this the start of the Germany
hyperinflation as the value of the Mark collapsed that month.
A liter of milk went from 7 Marks in April 1922, to 16 Marks in August
to 26 Marks in mid-September. The 160 x 85mm note has a
simple design consisting primarily of words printed on watermarked
paper. For a high value note that is almost a century old and
in top condition it is remarkably inexpensive.
Item
PM-DE-1000M-22
GERMANY 1000 MARK NOTE 1922 P76 UNC.
$5.00
THE FAMOUS GERMAN
“VAMPIRE
NOTE” 
This large ( 180 x 100mm - approx. 7” x 4”) 10,000 Mark note dated
January 19, 1922 is
often called the “Vampire Note” If you turn the note sideways
and 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 that the
heavy reparations that Germany had to pay France following World War I.
It France represented sucking the lifeblood out of Germany. We offer
this popular note in both circulated and
Uncirculated condition.
Item
PM-DE-VAMP-C
GERMANY 10,000 MARK "VAMPIRE NOTE" 1922 P72 VF $7.00
Item
PM-DE-VAMP-U
GERMANY 10,000 MARK "VAMPIRE NOTE" 1922 P72 UNC. $16.00
For more information
about this note and similar stories of hidden messages on other notes,
get the book:
BOOKS:
PAPER MONEY MESSAGES, A PICTORIAL PERSPECTIVE by Jeffrey
Jerome
POPULAR GERMAN
100,000 MARK
INFLATION NOTE
This 100,000 Mark note dated February 1, 1922 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 offer this popular note in both circulated and
Uncirculated condition.
Item
PM-DE-100,000M-C
GERMANY 100,000 MARK NOTE,
1922 P83a VF $5.00
Item
PM-DE-100,000M-U
GERMANY 100,000 MARK NOTE,
1922 P83a UNC. $18.00
100 MILLION MARK NOTE!

This
German 100 Million Mark note is dated August 22, 1923. It was
issued at the height of Germany's hyperinflation. When issued
it was the highest denomination issued by the German government and was
worth about 10 Dollars. Within less than three months it was
worth only a tiny fraction of a cent. In order to run the
presses faster, it was printed on only one side.
Item
PM-DE-100MM
GERMANY 100 MILLION MARK 1923 P107 VF-XF $5.00
A HIGHLY REVALUED
GERMAN NOTE
This German banknote was originally authorized in December 1922 as a
1000
Mark note. Because of Germany's inflation, it was virtually
worthless when was ready to be released and few actually went into
circulation. By autumn of 1923 Germany's inflation was
totally out of control. The government could not issue new
notes fast enough to keep up with rising prices. The unissued
1000 Mark notes were overprinted in September 1923 as 1 Billion Mark
notes (Milliarde in German translates as 1 Billion in
English). The front of the note has the portrait of Jörg Herz
who was the Mintmaster of Nuremberg in the early 16th
century. The back has gulloche patterns and the
denomination. The note is 140x90mm. It
makes a fascinating lesson about inflation.
Item
PM-DE-BILL-U
GERMANY 1 BILLION (MILLARDE) MARK OVERPRINTED ON 1000 MARK 1922 NOTE
P113 AU-UNC. $15.00
INFLATION
COINS OF THE
WEIMAR REPUBLIC
In 1922 Germany issued a circulating 3 Mark coin commemorating the 3rd
Annive-rsary of the Weimar Cons-titution. The denomination,
date and mintmark are on the obverse. A Germanic Eagle and
the legend "
VERFASSUNGSTAG
11. AUGUST 1922" (Constitution day, August
11, 1922) is on the other. The aluminum coin is 28mm aluminum
and 1.55mm thick. Inflation quickly took a toll on Germany.
In 1923 Germany issued aluminum 200 and 500 Mark coins. The
500 Mark is just slightly smaller than the 3 Mark: 27mm in diameter and
1.35mm thick. The 200 Mark is 23mm in diameter,
1.2mm thick, and weighs just 1 gram. The designs of the 200 and 500
Mark are similar to the 3 Mark: The denomination, date and mintmark on
the obverse, the eagle on the reverse. The legend on the
reverse of the 1923 issues was changed to "
EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND
FREIHEIT" (Unity and Justice and Freedom" which was the
unofficial
national motto. They provide a vivid example of
Germany's hyperinflation.
Item
DE-3M GERMANY 3 MARK 1922 KM29 BU-crude
strike
$8.00
Item
DE-200M GERMANY 200 MARK 1923
KM35 BU
$5.00
Item
DE-500M GERMANY 500 MARK 1923
KM36 UNC. $15.00
GERMAN NOTGELD COINS, PAPER AND PORCELAIN
Notgeld means "emergency money" in German, and generally refers to an
extensive series of locally issued coins and currency produced during
and following World War I. Notgeld was issued in paper, metal
and even porcelain and other materials. Below is a selection
of this fascinating but little known collectible.
METAL
GERMAN NOTGELD COINS

Notgeld
coins were struck for over 600 communities and companies in Germany
between 1916 and 1922, though many are not dated. Most are in
denominated from 5 to 50 Pfennig. Typically the city arms or landmark
is on one side and the denomination is on the other. They
were usually struck in zinc or iron, both of which corrode easily, so
the
coins may be spotted or rusted.
Item DE-METNOTx1 1
GERMAN METAL NOTGELD COIN, F-VF $3.00
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.
Item
PM-DE-NOTx1 1
GERMAN NOTGELD NOTE $1.00
Item
PM-DE-NOTx25 25
DIFFERENT GERMAN NOTGELD
NOTES, $19.50
Item
PM-DE-NOTx100 100 DIFFERENT GERMAN
NOTGELD
NOTES, $79.50
EMERGENCY
BANKNOTE
FROM THE CITY OF GOTHA
Reduced
size image
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.
Item
PM-GOTHA GOTHA, GERMANY 100 MARK NOTE, 1922
VF $3.00
GERMAN
INFLATION POSTAGE
STAMPS
Germany’s post World War I inflation is reflected in their postage
stamps. This set includes 27 different German postage stamps
issued between 1918 to 1923, with values ranging from 10 Pfennig (cost
of a domestic letter in 1918) to 5 Million Mark (a domestic letter cost
4 Million Mark on Oct. 20, 1923). In
order to try to keep up with the soaring rates some stamps were
overprinted with new values. The stamps in this collection
are all original unused stamps however some may be slightly torn or
damaged.
Item
STMP-DE-INFL27 27 DIFFERENT UNUSED GERMAN
POSTAGE STAMPS 1918-1923
$12.00

REMEMBERING
THE WAR
CANADA 2018 COLORED AND
UNCOLORED WWI ARMISTICE COINS

Canada
honored the 100th Anniversary of the World War I Armistice with two
versions of circulating bi-metallic 2 Dollar coins: uncolored and
colored. Both versions have similar designs. In the
center brass plated core is a soldier's helmet, beneath it is the word "
ARMISTICE" a
remembrance poppy. The colored version of the coin features
the poppy in red. Maple leaves and poppies are features in
the nickel-plated outer rim, along with the words "
REMEMBER" in
English and French ("
SOUVENIR")
and the date 2018. The Susanna Blunt portrait of Queen
Elizabeth is on the obverse of the 28mm coin.
Item
CA-2D18-REGARM
CANADA 2 DOLLARS 2018 UNCOLORED ARMISTICE UNC. $5.50
Item
CA-2D18-COLARM
CANADA 2 DOLLARS 2018 COLORED ARMISTICE UNC. out
WORLD
WAR I REMEMBRANCE COINS FROM CANADA
In 1915 Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae wrote the
immortal poem "In Flanders Fields". The poem refers
to the fields of red poppies that grew between the graves of the
soldiers that died in the Battles of Ypres. The poem first
published anonymously in Great Britain, quickly grew in popularity
throughout the English speaking world. It was used in
propaganda efforts and appeals to sell war bonds and recruit
solders. The red poppy became a widely recognized symbol to
remember soldiers that died in conflicts. In 2015 Canada
marked the 100th anniversary of John McCrea’s famous poem with
circulating commemorative 2 Dollar and 25 Cent coins. The
center section of the bi-metallic 2 Dollar coin depicts McCrea penning
the poem. In the background is a lark and crosses marking the
soldiers’ graves. The outer rim features poppies and Canadian
Maple Leafs. Two versions of the copper-nickel 25 cent coin
were issued, one with a realistic color depiction of a red
poppy. The other features an uncolored poppy. All
three coin depict Queen Elizabeth on the obverse and are Uncirculated.
Item
CA-2D15-MCCREA
CANADA 2 DOLLARS 2015 JOHN McCREA UNC. out
Item
CA-25c15-COLOR
CANADA 25 CENTS 2015 COLOR POPPY,
UNC. out
Item
CA-25c15-REG
CANADA 25 CENTS 2015 REGULAR (uncolored)
UNC. $1.00
AUSTRALIA
REMEMBERS WORLD WAR I

Australia
issued two $2 Dollar circulating colored commemorative coins in 2015 to
honor the 100th anniversary of World War
I. Both coins were inspired by John McCrae’s famous poem In
Flanders Fields and incorporate a colored circle in the
design. The first coin features a circle of crosses around a
red circle, representing the red poppy. The design was
inspired by the first two lines of the poem “In Flanders fields the
poppies blow. Between the crosses, row on row” In the center
are the words “Lest We Forget”. The second depicts
flying
larks, surrounding orange colored rings, which represent the sunset
glow, which are from the first and second stanzas of the poem. The
aluminum-bronze coins are 20.5mm and have Queen Elizabeth is on the
obverse
Item
AU-2DCROSS
AUSTRALIA TWO DOLLAR COIN, 2015 WORLD WAR I - CROSSES
KM2188
UNC. $7.50
Item
AU-2DLARK
AUSTRALIA TWO DOLLAR COIN, 2015 WORLD WAR I -
LARKS KM2189 UNC. OUT
Also see:
WORLD
WAR II COINS & CURRENCY
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