50 Heller Rabenstein Noir

Rabenstein an der Pielach was one of hundreds of Austrian market towns that issued Notgeld during the postwar currency chaos of 1919–1921, when the collapse of the Habsburg monetary system left rural communities without adequate small change. The Marktgemeinde authorized these notes locally, backed by nothing more than municipal credibility and the expectation of eventual redemption.

Sommer of St. Pölten handled a considerable volume of lower Austrian Notgeld work during this period. The official stamp is the operative security feature — without it, the note was simply printed paper.