10 Pfennig - Oschersleben

Historical Context:This 10 Pfennig from Oschersleben, issued in 1917, exemplifies German Notgeld during World War I. As the German Empire, under Kaiser Wilhelm II, faced severe metal shortages for central coinage, municipalities like Oschersleben in Saxony-Anhalt issued their own currency for local commerce. The use of zinc underscores dire economic circumstances and the critical need to conserve valuable metals for the war effort, making this piece a direct artifact of wartime exigency and local resilience.

Artistry:Artistically, this 10 Pfennig reflects the utilitarian aesthetic common to most Notgeld. A specific engraver is usually unrecorded for such local emergency coinage, with design prioritizing clarity and function. The obverse likely features the denomination, "Stadt Oschersleben," and date in a straightforward typeface. The reverse might display a simplified municipal crest or plain legend, adhering to a functional, unadorned stylistic school characteristic of rapid wartime production.

Technical/Grading:Technically, this zinc 10 Pfennig presents unique challenges. Key high-points susceptible to wear or strike weakness include raised lettering and any central device. Due to rapid wartime production and zinc's softness, strikes are often uneven or incomplete, causing flatness even on uncirculated examples. Zinc is also highly prone to "zinc rot"—pitting or crystalline growths—which significantly impacts a coin's grade and preservation.