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1 000 000 Mark

Issuer Stadt- und Landkreis Gelsenkirchen
Year 1923
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Shape Rectangular
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Obverse description The obverse is printed in dark red and black on cream paper, enclosed within a decorative guilloche border of repeating scroll and geometric motifs. The denomination "Eine Million Mark" is set in large bold black letterpress type at centre, above which the issuing authority legend appears in red italic script; below, a two-line authorization text references the Reichsfinanzminister and the date 15 August 1923, flanked by two circular official seals of the Stadt- and Landkreis Gelsenkirchen. Signature lines for the Oberbürgermeister (on behalf of the city) and the Kreisausschuß (on behalf of the district) appear at lower centre, with the numeral "1000000" printed vertically in red along the right margin.
Obverse lettering Notgeld für den Stadt- und Landkreis GelsenKirchen
Eine Million Mark
Ausgegeben mit Genehmigung des Reichsfinanzministers von Stadt- u. Landkreise Gelsenkirchen. Gelsenkirchen, d. 15. August 1923
Namens der Stadt Gelsenkirchen:
Der Oberbürgermeister
Namens des Landkreises Gelsenkirchen:
Der Kreisausschuß
1 000 000
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Comments

Gelsenkirchen was deep coal-mining territory, and the municipal authority there — covering both the city and surrounding rural district — issued emergency Notgeld like most German localities during the hyperinflation of 1923. By the time seven-figure denominations were necessary, the Reichsmark was losing value faster than notes could be printed and distributed. Municipal issuers were filling a practical gap left by an overwhelmed central banking system.

The million-mark ceiling would itself be obsolete within weeks of this note's issue date.

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