500 000 Mark

Plauen was one of hundreds of German municipalities forced into emergency currency production during the hyperinflation of 1923, when the Reichsmark's collapse outpaced the Reichsbank's ability to supply adequate denominations. By mid-1923, half a million marks would not have covered a tram fare for long — notes like this were already obsolete in purchasing power within days of issue.

City-issued Notgeld at this denomination was printed locally under considerable time pressure, which is why quality control across the series is inconsistent. Paper stock and impression sharpness vary noticeably between batches.