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50 Heller Wachau - Aggstein
| Issuer | Marktgemeinde Spitz an der Donau (Market Town of Spitz) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1920 |
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| In circulation to | 30 September 1920 |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is divided into two distinct panels. The left panel carries an etched vignette of the ruins of Aggstein Castle (Ruine Aggstein) set amid a dramatic rocky hillside landscape with a winding path below, rendered in a fine woodcut or etching style. The right panel, printed on a light blue guilloché underprint, bears the title inscription 'Wachauer Notgeld' in bold Gothic lettering at the top, with the denomination 'Fünfzig Heller' and the large numeral '50' below, followed by the validity date 'Giltig bis 30. September 1920' and a counterfeiting warning. The designer credit 'Entworfen: Radierer Walter Prinzl, Melk' and printer imprint 'Eduard Sieger, Wien' appear in small type at the lower margin. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse is printed in black on plain white paper within a bold rectangular border composed of a repeating square-dash pattern. The heading 'WACHAUER NOTGELD.' is centred at the top flanked on each side by the numeral '50'. The body of the note carries a multi-line legal text in block capitals declaring the guarantee of the Marktgemeinde Spitz a./D. for the note's acceptance and redemption at the municipal cashier's office between 15 and 30 September 1920, followed by the anti-counterfeiting warning 'NACHAHMUNG WIRD BESTRAFT.' Three handwritten signatures appear at the foot, preceded by the printed titles 'VIZEBÜRGERMEISTER:', 'BÜRGERMEISTER:' and 'I. GESCHÄFTSS. GEM.-RAT:'. |
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| Comments |
Wachau notgeld from this period occupies a peculiar corner of Austrian emergency currency — these small-denomination pieces were issued not purely from necessity by 1920, but increasingly as collectibles designed to be sold to tourists and philatelists rather than spent at market. Eduard Sieger in Vienna printed numerous such regional issues, and Prinzl's involvement as both designer and engraver gives this note an unusual degree of artistic unity for the format.
Aggstein castle, the ruined fortress above the Danube gorge, made this a desirable set piece for collectors even at time of issue. Survival rates are consequently high — most were never folded into a pocket.