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
& 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.
Item
DE-EMP-SET6 GERMAN EMPIRE 6 COIN SET 1
PFENNIG - 1 MARK 1874-1918 F-XF
$22.00
Item
PM-DE-SET3 GERMAN EMPIRE 20, 100
& 1000 MARK BANKNOTES 1908-1914 F-VF
$6.00
Item
PM-DE-SET3x10 10 OF THE ABOVE GERMAN
EMPIRE 3 NOTE SETS
$39.00
Item
PM-DE-SET3x100 100 OF THE ABOVE
GERMAN
EMPIRE 3 NOTE SETS
$195.00

THE
WAR YEARS 1914-1918
GERMAN WORLD
WAR I
ERA
COIN SET

Because
of the difficulty in obtaining nickel and copper needed for coins due
to World War I, Germany made a number of changes in their
coinage. In 1917 the copper 1 Pfennig was switched to
aluminum and shrunk in size. It was discontinued shortly
after that. The copper 2 Pfennig was discontinued due to the
war. The copper-nickel 5 Pfennig was changed to iron in 1915
and continued to be produced until 1922. The
copper-nickel 10 Pfennig was produced in two metals: iron, starting in
1916, and zinc starting in 1917. Both continued to be struck
until 1922. All the coins had the denomination on one side
and the imperial German Eagle on the other. This
World War I era four coin set includes the aluminum 1 Pfennig, iron 5
Pfennig and both the iron and zinc 10 Pfennig in Very Fine of better
condition.
Item
DE-WWISET GERMANY 4 COIN SET 1 - 10
PFENNIG, 1915-1922
VF
$7.50
WAR
MONEY FROM COBLENZ, GERMANY

During
World War I many communities in Germany issued their own coins called
"Kriegsgeld" which translates as war money. We offer a set of two
Kriegsgeld from the city of Coblenz (now Koblenz) dated 1918.
The iron 10 and 25 Pfennig have the same design. One side has
the city name, arms and the legend "
GÜLTIG
BIS 1 JAHR NACH
FRIEDENSSCHLUSS" which translates as "Good for 1 Year
after the
conclusion of Peace". The other side has the denomination and
date.
Item
COBLENZ COBLENZ 10 & 25 PFENNIG 1918
WAR MONEY VF
$7.00
WORLD WAR I ERA
GERMAN
MUNICIPAL CURRENCY
As World War I drew to a close many municipalities issued
currency. These notes are called grossgeldscheine, which
translates as large banknotes. Most are full sized notes
dating between October 1918 and February 1919 with denominations from 1
to 50 Mark. We have a nice selection of these historic, hard
to find notes. Some are punch cancelled.
Item
PM-DE-WWIx1 1 GERMAN MUNICIAPAL NOTE 1918-19
VF-XF
$3.00
Item
PM-DE-WWIx10 10 DIFFERENT GERMAN MUNICIAPAL
NOTES 1918-19 VG-XF
$29.95
Item
PM-DE-WWIx30 30 DIFFERENT GERMAN MUNICIAPAL
NOTES 1918-19 VG-XF
$89.75
BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED WORLD WAR I CZARIZT RUSSIAN SILVER 20 KOPECK

This
beautiful, Brilliant Uncirculated Czarist Russian 20 Kopeck coin was
struck in 1914, just as World War I was starting. The war was
one of the leading causes of the downfall of the Czarist government and
the communist takeover of Russia. One side includes the
denomination, date and mintmark of the St.Petersburg mint within a
wreath. The other side depicts the Czarist Russian Imperial
Eagle. Below are the intitials of the mintmaster: Viktor
Smirnov. The 22mm coin is struck in .500 fine silver.
Item
PM-RU-20K RUSSIA 20 KOPECKS 1914 Y22a.1 BU $35.00
WORLD WAR I
RUSSIAN POSTAGE
STAMP MONEY

Russia
faced a severe coin shortage during World War
I. In 1915, in order to provide for much needed
small change, the government created this emergency issue of postage
stamp notes. The postage stamp notes were printed on thin
cardboard using the designs of stamps issued in 1913 to commemorate the
300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The back had the
imperial Russian eagle and text indicting that the stamp money should
be accepted the same as silver or copper coins. The brown 15
Kopeck features Czar Nicholas I, who reigned from 1825 to 1855. It is
24 x 13mm and has perforated edges.
Just two years after the czarist postage stamp notes were issued the
Czar Nicholas II was deposed and murdered by the Bolsheviks, bringing
and end to the rule of the Romanov dynasty.
Item
PM-RU-15K-STMP RUSSIA 15 KOPECK POSTAGE
STAMP CURRENCY (1915) P22 AU-UNC. $5.00
BEAUTIFUL WORLD WAR
I ERA ITALIAN SILVER COINS


Victor
Emmanuel III (Vittorio Emanuele III) became King of Italy in
1900. His reign lasted 45 years, spanning both World War I
and World War II. He was an avid numismatist, which
may explain why he issued such attractive coins. The designs
of his coins reflect those of ancient Italy. From the World
War I era we have these wonderful silver1 and 2 Lire coins issued from
1914 to 1917. Both coins have similar designs. The
reverses feature a quadriga (an ancient carriage) pulled by four
prancing horses, carrying Italia, the female personification of
Italy. She is holding a shield and an olive branch.
The design is based on the coins of ancient Syracuse.. The
obverse has the bust of King Victor Emmanuel III. The coin
has a lettered edge with the letters FERT repeated three
times. FERT was the motto of the house of Savoy. It
is thought to be an acronym; however it is unclear about what it stands
for. The coins were struck to the standards of the Latin
Monetary Union. The 1 Lira is 23mm, weighs 5 grams, is struck
in .835 fine silver and contains. .1342 troy ounces of
silver. The 2 Lira is 27mm, weights 10 grams, is struck in
.835 fine silver and contains .2683 troy ounces of silver.
These beautiful, historic silver coins of World War I show virtually no
wear.
Item
IT-VE3-1L ITALY 1 LIRA 1917 KM57 XF-AU
$25.00
Item
IT-VE3-2L ITALY 2 LIRE 1914-16 KM55 XF-AU
$35.00
Item
IT-VE3-1+2L BOTH OF THE ABOVE COINS ITALY 1 & 2 LIRE 1914-17 XF-AU
$59.00
THE
AFTERMATH
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 Fine $3.00
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.
Item
PM-FLENS-25PF FLENSBURG 25 PFENNIG
NOTE 1920 UNC. $4.00
AUSTRIAN NOTGELD NOTES
Reduced
size image
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 are
Uncirculated. Every lot is different, with few duplicates
between lots.
Item PM-AT-NOTx10
10 DIFFERENT AUSTRIAN NOTGELD NOTES, MOST UNC. $9.00
Item PM-AT-NOTx25
25 DIFFERENT AUSTRIAN NOTGELD NOTES, MOST UNC. $18.00
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.
Item
PM-UPAT-50
UPPER AUSTRIA 50 HELLER 1921 PS121 UNC. $3.00
BONN
CELEBRATES
BEETHOVEN

The
German city of Bonn commemorated the 150th anniversary of the birth
of Ludwig van Beethoven with this 1920 10 Pfennig coin.
The coin has Beethoven's bust and the dates 1770 and
1920 on the obverse and the
denomination is on the
reverse. It is struck on zinc plated iron. Beethoven
was born in Bonn and studied there before moving to
Vienna in 1792. During and after World War I many German
cities and towns issued their own coins, called notgeld (emergency
money) to alleviate a severe coin shortage brought on by the war.
Item
BONN-10PF-BEET BONN, GERMANY 10 PFENNIG 1920
BEETHOVEN AU-UNC
$7.00
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 July 5, 1918, 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.
Item
PM-FRANK-25PF FRANKFURT, GERMANY 25 PFENNIG
NOTE 1919 XF $3.00
Item
PM-FRANK100MM FRANKFURT, GERMANY 100 MILLION
MARK NOTE 1923 VF-XF $7.00
Item
PM-MARB-50PF MARBURG, GERMANY 50 PFENIG NOTE
1918 VF $3.00
Item
PM-MARB-20BM MARBURG, GERMANY 20 MILLARDEN
(BILLION) MARK 1923 VF Out
GERMAN
SET OF 9 GERMAN NOTES 1 MARK - 2 MILION MARK 1920-1923 INFLATION 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.
Item
PM-DE-SET9
SET OF 9 GERMAN NOTES 1 MARK - 2 MILION MARK 1920-1923 F-AU $29.75
CLICK
HERE to see our exhibit on the coins and notes of the German
Hyperinflation
WEIMAR REPUBLIC COMMEMORATES 3rd
ANNIVERSARY WITH 3 MARK
In 1922 Germany issued a circulating 3 Mark coin commemorating the 3rd
Anniversary of the Weimar Constitution. 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. The coins
catalog $25 each, but due to a fortunate purchase we can offer them for
substantially less than that.
Item
DE-3M-A GERMANY 3 MARK 1922-A BERLIN MINT
KM29 BU
$5.00
Item
DE-3M-G GERMANY 3 MARK 1922-G KARLSRUHE MINT
KM29 BU
$5.00
Item
DE-3Mx10 10 pieces of GERMANY 3 MARK 1922
KM29, mixed A & G mints BU
$29.50
GERMAN NOTGELD COINS AND PAPER
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
$3.50
Item DE-METNOTx10 10
DIFFERENT GERMAN METAL NOTGELD COINS, F-VF $35.00
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!
Item
PM-DE-NOTx10 10 DIFFERENT
GERMAN NOTGELD NOTE UNC. $10.00
Item
PM-DE-NOTx25 25
DIFFERENT GERMAN NOTGELD
NOTES, UNC. $22.50
Item
PM-DE-NOTx100 100
DIFFERENT GERMAN NOTGELD
NOTES, MOST UNC.
$89.50
Item
PM-DE-NOTx200 200
DIFFERENT GERMAN NOTGELD
NOTES, MOST UNC.
$179.00
GERMANY
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.
Item
PM-DE-INFLNOTx1 1
GERMAN 1923 INFLATION NOTGELD NOTE VF-XF $3.00
Item
PM-DE-INFLNOTx10 10 DIFFERENT 1923 GERMAN
INFLATION
NOTGELD NOTES VG-XF $29.95
Item
PM-DE-INFLNOTx30 30 DIFFERENT 1923 GERMAN
INFLATION
NOTGELD NOTES VG-XF $89.95
Item
PM-DE-INFLNOTx100 100 MOSTLY DIFFERENT 1923
GERMAN
INFLATION
NOTGELD NOTES VG-XF $295.00
CLICK
HERE to see our exhibit on the coins and notes of the German
Hyperinflation
HISTORIC
1930 YOUNG PLAN BONDS ATTEMPT TO PAY GERMAN WAR
REPARATIONS
After its defeat in World War I, Germany was saddled with heavy war
reparations, the repayment of which contributed to the 1923 German
hyperinflation and helped bring Hitler to power. An attempt
was made in 1924 to restructure the payments, however that quickly
failed. A second attempt was made in 1929. The
proposal was known as the Young Plan. It was named after its
chairman, American industrialist Owen D. Young, who founded the Radio
Corporation of America (RCA) and was Chairman of General
Electric. The Young Plan reduced payments by about
20%, stretched payment out over 58 years, and created the Bank of
International Settlements to facilitate the reparation
payments. One third of the annual reparations were to be paid
by Germany from general revenue, however that payment could be
postponed. Two thirds of the annual payments were to be financed by a
consortium of American banks and were "unconditional". In
1930 bonds were issued various currencies to help implement the
plan. The plan however quickly failed. The stock
market crash of 1929, the start of the Great Depression and the
collapse of international trade made the plan infeasible. As might be
expected, the plan was unpopular with most Germans and Hitler made
repudiation of the war reparations a major element of his
campaigns. He repudiated the debt after becoming Chancellor
in 1933. After Germany's defeat in World War II the payments were again
restructured, and Germany finally paid off the last of its reparation
debt and interest in 2020, 92 years after its defeat in World War
I. We offer ab historic `000 Swiss Francs 1930
Young Plan Bond. The bonds paid 5
1/2% interest. They have texts in German, English and
French. The large sized bonds measure
approximately 11.75" x 16.5" (300 x 420mm) and have been punch
canceled. The Swiss bonds
include a partial sheet of 41 coupons, dating from June 1, 1945 to June
1 1965. They are important but rarely seen financial
instruments.
Item
BND-YOUNG-SWISS 1000 SWISS FRANCS 1930 YOUNG
BOND
VF-cancelled
$7.00

REMEMBERING
THE WAR
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 25 Cent coins. 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. Queen
Elizabeth is on the obverses and the coins are Uncirculated.
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
Also see:
WORLD
WAR II COINS & CURRENCY
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