20 Pfennig - Kempten Mechanische Baumwollspinnerei

Mechanische Baumwoll-Spinnerei und Weberei Kempten was one of the larger textile operations in the Allgäu region, and like many German industrial firms during the early Weimar period, it resorted to issuing its own zinc notgeld tokens when small-denomination coinage effectively vanished from circulation after 1918. These factory-issued pieces served as internal currency — typically redeemable at the company store or canteen — tying workers' purchasing power directly to their employer.

Zinc was the material of necessity, not preference. Post-war metal shortages made it the default for emergency coinage across hundreds of German municipalities and private issuers.