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500 000 Mark Rheinische Stahlwerke
| Issuer | Rheinische Stahlwerke A.G. |
|---|---|
| Year | 1923 |
| Type | Local banknote |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse is printed in dark blue-grey on cream paper within a double-rule border with ornamental corner squares. A central circular vignette, set against a yellow-green guilloche disc, bears the inscribed name 'RHEINSTAHL' at the top and depicts a seated allegorical male figure of industry resting beside a hammer, with steel mill chimneys and a radiant sunburst in the background. The denomination '500000' appears in bold numerals within shaded rectangular panels to the left and right of the central vignette. The issuer's name 'Rheinische Stahlwerke' curves in Gothic Fraktur along the upper arc, while 'Fünfhunderttausend Mark' runs in matching script along the lower arc. |
| Reverse lettering | Rheinische Stahlwerke REINSTAHL 500000 Fünfhunderttausend Mark |
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| Comments |
Rheinische Stahlwerke A.G. was one of the major integrated steel producers in the Ruhr, and like dozens of industrial firms during the hyperinflation of 1923, it issued its own emergency currency — Notgeld — to pay workers when the Reichsbank simply could not supply enough physical notes fast enough. A 500,000 Mark denomination sounds staggering; by mid-1923 it was roughly a day's wage, and within weeks it would be functionally worthless.
Corporate Notgeld of this type was printed locally and redeemable only through the issuing firm, which kept payroll moving but fragmented the currency supply across hundreds of private obligations simultaneously.