Münsterberg's iron notgeld of 1918 falls squarely within the emergency coinage wave that swept German municipalities after the Reich's copper and nickel reserves were redirected entirely toward the war effort. The Stadtsparkasse — a savings institution, not a traditional mint authority — issued these pieces under provisions that allowed local bodies to fill the coin vacuum when Berlin could not. Iron was the default: abundant, worthless to hoarders, and already familiar from wartime Reichsmark coinage.
Funck 351.3 indicates a distinct die variety within the Münsterberg issue, suggesting multiple production runs or supplier changes during the year.
Münsterberg's iron notgeld of 1918 falls squarely within the emergency coinage wave that swept German municipalities after the Reich's copper and nickel reserves were redirected entirely toward the war effort. The Stadtsparkasse — a savings institution, not a traditional mint authority — issued these pieces under provisions that allowed local bodies to fill the coin vacuum when Berlin could not. Iron was the default: abundant, worthless to hoarders, and already familiar from wartime Reichsmark coinage.
Funck 351.3 indicates a distinct die variety within the Münsterberg issue, suggesting multiple production runs or supplier changes during the year.