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500 000 000 Mark
| Issuer | Stadt Mülheim an der Ruhr |
|---|---|
| Year | 1923 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Mark (1914-1924) |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is printed in dark brown and black on a tan guilloche underprint ground, framed by a heavy ornamental letterpress border with lace-like filigree work. The issuing authority's name appears in Gothic script at the top, with the large denomination numeral '500' and the legend 'Millionen Mark' in bold blackletter type occupying the centre field. To the upper right a vignette of a church tower or industrial structure is set within a panelled cartouche, and the city arms of Mülheim an der Ruhr appear twice in the left margin; the serial number in red and the dated authorisation text with the Oberbürgermeister's facsimile signature are printed in the lower portion. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse carries the same tan guilloche underprint and dark ornamental border as the obverse. A central oval vignette rendered in fine letterpress engraving presents a view of a historic Mülheim church with a tall spire and surrounding rooftops. The denomination '500 Millionen' appears in large blackletter numerals in both the left and right panels flanking the central vignette, and faint impressions of the city arms are visible at the upper and lower right margins. |
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| Comments |
Mülheim an der Ruhr was one of dozens of German municipalities forced into emergency currency production during the hyperinflation peak of late 1923, when Reichsbank notes were being overprinted so rapidly that local authorities couldn't wait for centrally issued denominations to catch up with daily price movements. A 500-million-Mark note, staggering by any prior standard, was functionally small change within weeks of issue — the Rentenmark reform of November 1923 rendered the entire series worthless shortly after.
Locally printed Notgeld at this scale was typically produced on whatever paper stock was available, and quality varies considerably within the same series.