Catalog
50 Marka
| Issuer | Eesti Wabariigi (Republic of Estonia) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1919 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | White note with ornate guilloche border in light tones, the denomination numeral '50' repeated in the four corners. The central text field bears the bold heading 'EESTI WABARIIGI 5% WÕLAKOHUSTUS' (Estonian Republic 5% Treasury Bill), with the issue date 'Tähtpäev 1 juunil 1919' and denomination 'Mk. 50.—' in the upper area. Three signature lines appear below the main text block under the authority of the Eesti Ajutise Walitsuse Nimel (In the name of the Provisional Government of Estonia), with 'SEERIA B' inscribed in the top and bottom centre panels. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Plain reverse printed in pale grey-brown, dominated by a large central guilloche rosette with radiating lines flanked by two bold numeral '50' value panels set within oval guilloche frames. The overall field is filled with an intricate lathe-work geometric underprint of interlocking patterns and circular rosettes in the corners, giving a fine engine-turned appearance with no additional text. |
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| Comments |
Estonia's first independent currency issues were produced domestically under severely constrained conditions — the country had declared independence in February 1918, fought off both German and Bolshevik forces, and was still engaged in the War of Independence when this note was printed. Local production was the only realistic option; there was no time and no safe corridor to commission foreign printers.
The marka series was eventually replaced by the kroon in 1928, but the 1919 issues hold particular weight as products of a state that had not yet secured its borders when the ink was drying.