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2 Million Mark - Menden
| Issuer | City of Menden |
|---|---|
| Year | 1923 |
| Type | Emergency coin |
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| Obverse description | The large numeral '2' dominates the central field, superimposed with the Westphalian dialect inscription 'GELD STOYF OVER NIX TE BOYTEN' arranged across the face of the denomination figure. The word 'MILLIONEN' appears in a raised rectangular panel at the base of the numeral, with the date '1923' below in the exergue between two raised dots. The circular legend 'NOTGELD DER STADT MENDEN' runs along the upper periphery, identifying the issuing municipality. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A standing male figure in contemporary working-class attire is depicted in high relief at center, gesturing expressively with one arm raised, set against a panoramic background view of the town of Menden with buildings and landscape rendered in fine detail. The Westphalian dialect phrase 'BAT KOST DAT?' ('What does that cost?') is inscribed in the upper field to either side of the figure, functioning as a commentary on the hyperinflationary conditions of the era. The overall composition is artistic and pictorial in character, typical of the high-quality Notgeld issues of 1923. |
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| Additional information |
Menden's 2 Million Mark issue appeared in the summer of 1923, when the Reichsbank's currency was collapsing so rapidly that municipal and commercial bodies across Germany were compelled to print or strike their own emergency money — Notgeld — simply to make change. By August of that year, the official exchange rate against the dollar had surpassed 1 million marks; within three months it would reach 4.2 trillion. Aluminium was the practical choice: cheap, available, and light enough that the metal value wouldn't immediately exceed the face value the moment the coin left the die.