5 Pfennigs - Köln Rest. Zool. Garten

Historical Context: The 5 Pfennigs notgeld from the City of Cologne, issued by the Restaurant of the Zoological Garden, is a compelling artifact of Germany's post-World War I economic crisis. During the Weimar Republic's early years, this emergency currency addressed a severe shortage of official coinage and rampant hyperinflation. Local entities, like the Zoological Garden's restaurant, issued their own scrip to facilitate daily commerce, highlighting the profound economic instability and localized monetary solutions of the era.

Artistry: The design, typical for notgeld, blends utilitarian necessity with local thematic representation. A specific engraver is often unrecorded; stylistically, it favors functional art with illustrative elements. Given its issuer, the obverse or reverse would almost certainly incorporate imagery related to the Zoological Garden, such as an animal motif or stylized garden depiction, alongside the denomination and issuer's name. This approach identified the issuing authority and imparted local identity.

Technical/Grading: Struck in zinc, a common and inexpensive notgeld material, this 5 Pfennigs coin measures 19.3 mm and weighs 1.6 grams. Zinc is prone to corrosion and "zinc rot," making well-preserved examples scarce. High-points susceptible to wear and environmental damage include the highest relief areas of any animal or garden motif, and lettering edges. Technical strike qualities often vary; many notgeld pieces exhibit weaker strikes, especially on peripheral details, and planchet imperfections are common, reflecting rapid production.