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5 Mark
| Issuer | Stadt Gießen (City of Giessen) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1918 |
| Type | Local banknote |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is printed on a fine hatched grey underprint with teal horizontal border bands, centred on a circular vignette of the Gießen Rathaus rendered in a bold woodcut style and enclosed within a green laurel wreath with ribbon lettering. The denomination 'Fünf' and 'Mark' are set in large red Fraktur type at upper left and upper right respectively, while the validity clause 'Gültig bis 1. Februar 1919', issue date 'Gießen, 1. Nov. 1918', the authority line 'Der Oberbürgermeister', a manuscript signature, and the serial number occupy the lower and lateral margins. The printer's imprint 'Brühl-Gießen' appears at the foot. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | Kriegs-Notgeld Stadt Gießen 5 5 |
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| Comments |
Gießen's municipal 5 Mark note of 1918 is a product of wartime Kommunalgeld — the emergency paper issued by German cities, towns, and districts when the imperial monetary system buckled under the strain of four years of conflict. By 1918, metal coinage had largely vanished from everyday commerce, hoarded or melted, forcing local authorities to paper over the gap with their own obligations. The city turned to Brühl, a local Gießen printer, rather than one of the major specialist houses, which was typical of smaller municipalities working with whatever press capacity remained available domestically.