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2 Deutsche Mark
| Issuer | Bank Deutscher Länder |
|---|---|
| Year | 1948 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 111 × 66 mm |
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| Obverse description | Printed in carmine-rose on a multicolour guilloche underprint with floral rosette motifs in orange and green, the obverse carries a seated allegorical female figure to the left, rendered in intaglio, holding a scroll and accompanied by a cornucopia. The denomination numeral '2' appears in each corner within ornamental cartouches, while the central field bears the value inscription 'ZWEI DEUTSCHE MARK' and the series date 'SERIE 1948' in bold letterpress. The top and bottom borders carry the legends 'BANKNOTE' and 'DEUTSCHE MARK' respectively, with a plate number and alphanumeric serial printed in black above the central vignette. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Printed in deep green on a pink guilloche underprint, the reverse is an entirely typographic and ornamental composition centred on a large intaglio numeral '2' executed in an elaborate scrollwork style. The word 'ZWEI' appears in bold serif letterpress to both the left and right of the central numeral, flanked by richly engraved acanthus-scroll corner pieces at all four angles. The top border reads 'BANKNOTE' and the lower border 'DEUTSCHE MARK', both set within guilloche bands, with denomination numerals '2' placed in each corner medallion. |
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| Comments |
The Bank Deutscher Länder was a transitional institution — established in March 1948 as a precursor to the Bundesbank, it issued currency before West Germany existed as a sovereign state. This 2 Mark note was part of the June 1948 currency reform that replaced the Reichsmark at a punishing conversion rate, effectively wiping out wartime monetary overhang and laying the economic foundation for what became the Wirtschaftswunder.
American Bank Note Company printed the entire BDL series in New York, as German printing infrastructure capable of producing secure currency was either destroyed or inaccessible. The Allied occupation authorities retained tight control over the process.