Item number: A1494

Year: AD 1923

Material: Bronze-Gilt

Size: 42.2 x 42.2 mm

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This is a large-denomination “Notgeld” (emergency money) issued by the Westphalia province of the Weimar Republic after World War I, in response to the hyperinflation that swept across Germany in the post-war period. The coin is made of bronze-gilt.

The obverse of the coin features the coat of arms of the Westphalia province, depicting a horse rearing with its front leg raised and facing left. Below the horse is the denomination “10000 Mark,” and surrounding the design are inscriptions in Gothic script stating the issuing authority “Notgeld der Provinz Westfalen” (Emergency Money of the Province of Westphalia) and the issuing year “1923.”

The reverse side of the coin features a left-facing portrait of Baron Heinrich Friedrich Karl von Stein, a German national hero who served as a key figure in guiding the Kingdom of Prussia towards becoming a great power during the 18th and 19th centuries. Surrounding the portrait are inscriptions in Gothic script reading “Minister vom Stein•Deutschlands Führer in schwerer Zeit 1757-1831” (Minister von Stein • Germany’s Leader in Difficult Times AD 1757-1831).

Baron von Stein was born in AD 1757 and was deeply influenced by the British political system and the French Enlightenment during his studies at the University of Göttingen. After graduating, he devoted himself to the public service, inspired by his admiration for King Frederick the Great of Prussia. While serving as the governor of Westphalia, he championed the construction of canals in the Ruhr area, which played a crucial role in the development of the local coal industry. Von Stein later rose to become the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Prussia. During his tenure, he faced the challenges of the Napoleonic Wars but remained committed to various domestic reforms in Prussia, laying the groundwork for the subsequent German unification movement.

The choice of Baron von Stein as the motif on the coin by the Province of Westphalia was symbolic on multiple levels. On one hand, it acknowledged the deep connections between the Baron and the region, particularly his pivotal role in promoting infrastructure and economic development during his time as governor of Westphalia. On the other hand, his image was also chosen to represent resilience in the face of external threats, drawing a parallel between the challenges faced during the Napoleonic Wars and those during World War I. Just as von Stein had led Prussia through a period of hardship and transformation, his inclusion on the coin served as a powerful symbol of hope and encouragement for Germany’s eventual resurgence after the war.

During World War I, Germany faced a shortage of essential metals such as gold, silver, copper, and nickel for coin minting. As a result, notgeld made from paper, fabric, or other metals began to circulate domestically. Issuers of these notgelds were not limited to the central bank; local governments, businesses, and even social organisations all produced their own versions. Following Germany’s defeat in World War I, the newly established Weimar Republic was burdened with massive reparations under the Treaty of Versailles. Additionally, the German mark had been decoupled from gold during the war, leading to rampant inflation. As a result, notgelds remained widely relied upon throughout Germany as the country continued to grapple with severe inflation.

It was not until AD 1924 that the Weimar Republic gradually stabilised the German economy by issuing the Rentenmark and later the Reichsmark, both of which were pegged to gold. This brought an end to the widespread use of notgelds. However, following the end of World War II, Germany briefly resumed the use of notgelds during the post-war economic recovery.

物件編號: A1494

年代: 公元 1923 年

材質: 青銅鍍金

尺寸: 42.2 x 42.2 mm

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚第一次世界大戰結束後，德國威瑪共和國的西發利亞省為應付戰後席捲德國的惡性通貨膨脹發行之大面額「緊急貨幣」，錢幣材質為青銅鍍金。

錢幣正面是西發利亞省的紋章，一匹面朝左方抬起前腳的駿馬。馬的下方為面額「10000 Mark」(10000 馬克)，周圍則是以德文尖角體字型標示發行單位「Notgeld der Provinz Westfalen」(西發利亞省緊急貨幣) 和發行年份「1923」。

錢幣背面則是德國的民族英雄，即公元18至19世紀輔佐普魯士王國走向強國之路的海因里希·弗里德里希·卡爾·馮·斯坦因帝國男爵左側肖像。男爵周圍同樣以德文尖角體字型的銘文標示「Minister vom Stein•Deutschlands Führer in schwerer Zeit 1757-1831」(馮·斯坦因首相•德國困難時期的領導人 公元1757至1831年)。

馮·斯坦因出生於公元1757年，在哥廷根大學求學期間受到英國政治制度和法國啟蒙運動的深切影響。畢業後秉持對於普魯士國王腓特烈大帝的崇拜，投身於公務體系並且在主持西發利亞總管期間，推動魯爾地區運河的建設促進當地煤礦業發展。後續馮·斯坦因高升為普魯士王國首相，任職首相期間歷經拿破崙戰爭的挑戰，但仍致力於普魯士境內各項改革，替後續的德國統一運動奠定基礎。

西發利亞省選擇馮·斯坦因男爵作為錢幣的圖騰，一方面是男爵與當地的淵源，另一方面也是以面對外敵的類似困境，拿破崙戰爭之於第一次世界大戰，作為德國將再次崛起的精神象徵和勉勵。

德國於第一次世界大戰期間，面臨鑄造錢幣所需的金銀銅鎳等金屬原料短缺，於國內開始發行紙張、布料或其他金屬材質的緊急貨幣。發行者不限於中央銀行，地方政府、企業公司甚至社團組織都紛紛發行不同的緊急貨幣。尤其第一次世界大戰戰敗後，接手的威瑪共和國一方面面臨《凡爾賽條約》鉅額賠款。另一方面則是德國馬克在戰爭期間和黃金脫鉤累積的通貨膨脹，使得德國面對激烈的通貨膨脹，讓德國各地仍持續依賴緊急貨幣。

直到公元1924年，威瑪共和國先後發行跟黃金掛勾的地租馬克跟國家馬克，方才逐漸穩定德國經濟，使得緊急貨幣使用告一段落。後續第二次世界大戰結束後，德國亦短暫恢復使用緊急貨幣。