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500 000 000 Mark Reichsbahndirektion
| Issuer | Reichsbahndirektion Köln (Deutsche Reichsbahn) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1923 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | Green and dark grey letterpress note with a dense star-and-rule border on all four sides. The denomination '500 000 000' is set in large open numerals at the upper left, followed by '*** Mark ***' in bold type, with the winged railway wheel vignette of the Deutsche Reichsbahn positioned at the upper right. The central text reads 'Gutschein der Deutschen Reichsbahn über Fünfhundert Millionen Mark' in a combination of Fraktur and roman type, over a fine guilloche underprint with large watermark-style numerals in the background. A circular purple stamp impression of the Deutsche Reichsbahn eagle seal appears at the lower left, with the place and date 'Köln, den 10. Oktober 1923', the issuing authority 'Reichsbahndirektion Köln', and two manuscript signatures below. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | 500 000 000 Mark Reihe A Gutschein der Deutschen Reichsbahn Nº 085286 b über Fünfhundert Millionen Mark Dieser Gutschein wird von allen Eisenbahn- und andern öffentlichen Kassen in Zahlung genommen. Er verliert seine Gültigkeit einen Monat nach Aufkündigung in den Kölner Ortsblättern. Köln, den 10. Oktober 1923. Reichsbahndirektion Köln DEUTSCHE REICHSBAHN |
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| Comments |
The Reichsbahndirektionen — regional directorates of the newly unified Deutsche Reichsbahn — issued emergency currency during the hyperinflation peak of 1923 because the Reichsbank simply could not print and distribute legal tender fast enough to meet payroll. This note was issued by the Cologne directorate specifically to pay railway workers, not for general commerce. It is notgeld in function if not always in legal classification.
By the time 500-million-mark denominations were necessary, the inflation had compressed the practical lifespan of a note to days. Many were spent before the ink was fully dry.