Trade: my 160,500 German Marks SOLD!!!
Weiss
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An especially crucial and topical subject given the state of the economy, the government, Ben Bernacke's helicopter, etc.
After WWI, Germany was supposed to make reparations to the nations it had injured. Just before this "London Ultimatum" German marks traded for about 7 marks per dollar. By the time of the first payment on this debt, early 1921, the rate had risen to about 60 marks per dollar. By November of 1921, the rate had zoomed to 330 marks per dollar.
Shortly thereafter, through a series of intentional and unintentional events, the inflation rate skyrocketed and Germany went through one of the most intense periods of hyperinflation the world has ever seen. Within months the rate had doubled to around 800 marks per dollar, then over 1,000, then 1,000,000. By the end of 1923, the rate had blown past a billion and gone to well over a trillion marks per dollar.
These notes are dated 1922 and 1923, from the fragile grey period between the onslaught of high inflation to the early period of hyperinflation. There are four bills total: a January 1922 10,000 mark bill, a March 1922 500 mark bill, a November 1922 50,000 mark bill, and a February 1923 100,000 mark bill. These bills were picked specifically because of their incredible graphics and size. The 50,000 and 100,000 mark bills are each about 7.25 x 4.25 inches and exhibit a gorgeous array of purples, greens, and black & red ink on bone backgrounds. The 500 mark bill is 4.25x6.75 inches, executed in blue, green, pink, black, and purple. The 10,000 Mark note is an incredible 5” wide by 8” long. When first released, it was the largest denomination note Germany had ever released. It’s nicknamed the “vampire note”, because when the note is turned sideways, a vampirish figure appears on the neck of the worker pictured in the upper right corner (said to be the French sucking the blood of German workers through the London Ultimatum reparations).
These are awesome pieces of history fast approaching 100 years old, and a warning about what could happen here or anywhere. They make a beautiful display, they're a nice background for coin photography, and they're much more interesting for kids to play with than store-bought "play money".
These notes are all circulated, and exhibit folds, bent corners, etc. The 500 mark bill is “autographed” : to my friend bud, Harry Bradley. There was a famous pin-up girl artist named Harry Bradley whose signature looks surprisingly like this, as well as a movie star from the 1920s and 1930s. Who knows?
Looking for $.70 us 90%. A mix of quarters, dimes, halves is fine. What do you have?
(Peace dollar shown for size only).
After WWI, Germany was supposed to make reparations to the nations it had injured. Just before this "London Ultimatum" German marks traded for about 7 marks per dollar. By the time of the first payment on this debt, early 1921, the rate had risen to about 60 marks per dollar. By November of 1921, the rate had zoomed to 330 marks per dollar.
Shortly thereafter, through a series of intentional and unintentional events, the inflation rate skyrocketed and Germany went through one of the most intense periods of hyperinflation the world has ever seen. Within months the rate had doubled to around 800 marks per dollar, then over 1,000, then 1,000,000. By the end of 1923, the rate had blown past a billion and gone to well over a trillion marks per dollar.
These notes are dated 1922 and 1923, from the fragile grey period between the onslaught of high inflation to the early period of hyperinflation. There are four bills total: a January 1922 10,000 mark bill, a March 1922 500 mark bill, a November 1922 50,000 mark bill, and a February 1923 100,000 mark bill. These bills were picked specifically because of their incredible graphics and size. The 50,000 and 100,000 mark bills are each about 7.25 x 4.25 inches and exhibit a gorgeous array of purples, greens, and black & red ink on bone backgrounds. The 500 mark bill is 4.25x6.75 inches, executed in blue, green, pink, black, and purple. The 10,000 Mark note is an incredible 5” wide by 8” long. When first released, it was the largest denomination note Germany had ever released. It’s nicknamed the “vampire note”, because when the note is turned sideways, a vampirish figure appears on the neck of the worker pictured in the upper right corner (said to be the French sucking the blood of German workers through the London Ultimatum reparations).
These are awesome pieces of history fast approaching 100 years old, and a warning about what could happen here or anywhere. They make a beautiful display, they're a nice background for coin photography, and they're much more interesting for kids to play with than store-bought "play money".
These notes are all circulated, and exhibit folds, bent corners, etc. The 500 mark bill is “autographed” : to my friend bud, Harry Bradley. There was a famous pin-up girl artist named Harry Bradley whose signature looks surprisingly like this, as well as a movie star from the 1920s and 1930s. Who knows?
Looking for $.70 us 90%. A mix of quarters, dimes, halves is fine. What do you have?
(Peace dollar shown for size only).
We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
--Severian the Lame
--Severian the Lame
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