Germany
German Notgeld – City of Elmshorn
25/50/75 Pf & 1/1.50/2 M
Notgeld is translated as Emergency Money, and rightly so. There was a shortage of cashflow that impacted all levels of society in the German populace, as well as several other European countries. From the beginning of monetary history financial policies failed from time to time and as a result, emergency money has popped up in one form or another to supplement the deficient currency available to the populace. In post WWI Europe, Germany and Austria had developed a rather robust form of emergency money that was not only necessary, but became so popular, that it became a popular collectible at the time, and remains so to this day.
While Notgeld, or emergency money, there were several types of Notgeld issued, we are considering the oddest type: Serienscheine.
Serienscheine is a somewhat different form of currency printed for use in everyday commerce. Serienscheine, or series notes, were a form of Notgeld that was a particularly odd form of Notgeld that was printed primarily as a collectible item rather than use during the economic emergency.
Seriencheine is very odd in that it seems to be at odds with the economic hardships plaguing Germany and other European countries, in that collectible banknotes during a time when money was extremely scarce, just boggles the mind. Yet it worked and worked well. Designed with local history, folklore, and artistically attractive, these notes were issued primarily by localities and companies, often issued with their printed validity dates already expired, which provided immediate cashflow and profit in the local areas. It would be a mistake, however, to say that Serinenscheine were not used in commerce. They themselves were the goods, and this provided a unique spot in the whole system as being both currency as well as product. This is not so odd to the modern collector of banknotes and coins, but during the time of extreme economic necessity, it occupied a unique spot in commerce at the time.
Many issues of Serienscheine are extremely interesting. Some show how much inflation rates over time, others show bizarre images and artwork, some are bland while others are wildly colorful. In the town of Elmshorn, 18 miles (30 km) north of Hamburg, was a valued food and leather processing town, and was not immune to the effects of post war inflation. One of the issues Elmshorn produced included a series concerning monetary history in different parts of the world. This starts us from the age of barter, showing how people had to trade things like cattle for other goods, to the present time, presenting the holder of the Notgeld with a barb: we only have gold and silver: one cannot eat metal, or keep warm with it – a stark realization those modern times.
Notgeld can be difficult to translate as it used modern German dialect as well as a mix of other regional dialects, many used Low German (Platt Deutsch), and Limburgish, but some Dutch and Danish have made it into the mix as well. I’ve even had one that seems to have snuck in some Swedish. Occaisionally there are spelling errors, but by far the hardest is the fonts used. Often times there are stylistic letters used in various forms of script, but a great deal use the old German Fraktur, which is notoriously difficult to interpret without a long time of exposure to it. Tight, bold letters with many odd shapes and serifs are just the beginning, as a few of the letters are quite hard to distinguish from each other. You can see the effects of such in the notes below, which have a basic translation with them.
25 Pfennig Front
Pecunia heet latinsch dat weeh dat eenstens geld hier weer
uns pecunieren sorgen ach de kamf darvon all her!
Pecunia is Latin for woe (Cattle) that (was) once money here | our pecuniary worries, That’s what our struggles come from!
25 Pfennig Back
Dat erste geld, hier helt gelt, dat weer dat leeve. Weeh op sin’ veer. Seen dar for kost. E’en all wat he bruken dee
The first money was real. That dear woe (cow) on its four legs, could be food or traded for all one needed |
50 Pfennig Front
Dat veerbeening Geld, dat lopt. Dat runde geld, dat rolst. Holl’t fast
Wenn zi dat nicht fast hollen hefst, denn hefst zi silben fajuld! Op Gepasst!
The four-legged money, it runs. The round money, it rolls. Hold it tight. If you haven’t held it fast, then you yourself are at fault! Watch out!
50 Pfennig Back
In Afrika, se bruukt Miesmusseln as Geld. ok Grote Baleen zug veel gellt.
In Siberien, rekent’s na zobeltelln. Op Yap, schalt arote, steen mat gelln.
In China, ‘n, Lock in’n millingplatt- ! Hesft mal gold und sulver hast
In Africa, they use cowrie shells as money. Also large bales are worth much money. In Siberia, they count by sable pelts. On Yap, large stone discs count as money. In China, a hole in the coin plates! We have gold and silver instead.
75 Pfennig Front
Wiese Lüüd seggt: allns schin! Wag ganz recht Mannigmal Sin –
Aurs unse schins hier sind nicht blots schin! de lund,as dedn Schier Gold in sulver se Sin!
Smart people say: It’s all just appearance, Perhaps quite right, sometimes. But our money is real, not just shiny, but solid gold and silver!
75 Pfennig Back
De leege Krieg hett bannig uns inn Druck, hett Gold und Sülver freten,
Doch Druck veroorsakt Gegendruck, een mutt sik to helpen weten,
So good as ‘n kann: — Wi druckt dargegen nu!
The war pressed us hard, and devoured gold and silver. Yet pressure causes counter-pressure, one must know how to help oneself, As best one can: — We’re pressing back now!
1 Mark Front
Lust an arbeit un work! Krenn gold stucken klingt. Keen Goldstücken klingt, sdjaner as de Musik de Hell ut de Workstad klingt: dat Leed, dat Leven un Workbig singt
Joy in work and labor! No gold pieces ring. No gold pieces ring more beautiful than the music that rings forth from the workshop: the song of life and work!
1 Mark Back
Dat beste geld, dat jummers gellt, vrell mehr, as gold in alle welt, is arbeitsluft un hedsichtkeit un Dohn sin Wlicht im schullig keit, Un Og un Hart blitzblank – dar kimmst overall mit tank
The best money, better than all the gold in the world, is our sense of work and diligence – doing one’s duty in school, a keen eye and a pure heart – with that you’ll receive thanks from all.
1.50 Mark Front
De Weltkrieg is to end – is freden worn, over de duffer fift de karkentorn na’n lieben – Gott ward true arheit Segengeben
The World War has ended, Over the house tops looms the church tower. May God give blessing to (our) faithful work.
1.50 Mark Back
As de Sweden Elmshorn in Brand harrn legt Weer Gottes hus toerst wedder t’recht – Datt schull beduden: Op Gott walt mi buen – in fasten Vertruen
When the Swedes had left Elmshorn in ashes, God’s house was the first to be restored – which means: On God I will build – in firm trust
2 Marks Front
Un wenn wi dat Schipp to Water hebt, Denn ward Düütschland wedder flott!
Denn ward nich bidreiht un nich refft, Darto help uns Gott!
Once we launch the ship into the water, then there’s no turning back and no rest. Then Germany restored!
Help us on our way, God!
2 Marks Back
Und geit uns dat ok nach so leeg . Wi kammt dach wedder in de Reeg! Op helgen sigt de takunst al mort zi denn luden hammerschall? Frischen Mod! Ward allns wedder god!
And even if it goes so badly for us, we’ll get back in line again! On high, the future already asks, do you hear the loud hammering sound? Fresh courage! Everything will be good again!