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1 000 000 Mark Viersen
| Issuer | Stadt Viersen (City of Viersen) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1923 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 000 000 Mark (1 000 000) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Typeset letterpress Notgeld voucher printed in black on pale green guilloche underprint paper, headed 'Gutschein der Stadt Viersen' in Gothic blackletter script, with the denomination 'Eine Million Mark' framed by dotted rules at centre. To the right, a rectangular border encloses series and serial number fields above a circular municipal seal bearing the Viersen civic arms with the legend 'WAPPEN DER STADT VIERSEN' and the denomination '1 000 000 Mark' below. The issue date 'Viersen, den 11. August 1923', the title 'Der Bürgermeister:' with a manuscript signature, and a validity clause in small Gothic type occupy the lower left. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Gutschein der Stadt Viersen über 1000000 Mark Eine Million Mark Viersen, den 11. August 1923 Der Bürgermeister: Dieser Schein verliert seine Gültigkeit 4 Wochen nach Bekanntmachung in den Viersener Zeitungen. Serie D Nr. WAPPEN DER STADT VIERSEN 1 000 000 Mark. |
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| Comments |
Viersen's million-mark note was produced during the hyperinflation peak of summer 1923, when German municipal and regional authorities — legally empowered under emergency provisions — flooded the economy with Notgeld to cover payrolls that the Reichsbank simply could not supply fast enough. By August of that year, a million marks would not reliably buy a loaf of bread for more than a few hours.
Dr. Gilles signed as Bürgermeister, giving the note its legal authorization under the city's emergency issuing authority. The Rhineland location meant Viersen was also navigating French occupation controls during the Ruhr Crisis — an additional layer of administrative pressure on an already collapsing currency system.