Most Attractive World Banknotes?

Some of the very finest printings ever in banknotes were during the late 19th century and early 20th century by printers such as Giesecke and Devrient, Waterlow and Sons, Bradbury Wilkinson, and of course American Banknote:

 

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Now I'm more confused

So Petronious says there are "Vichy notes" and "Occupied France notes", though you say they were all issued by BdF, and valid across all of France. What then distinguishes a note as "Vichy" or not?

Dave

 

Vichy notes are the ones that I put my picture...save images for your archive

5 + 10 francs post #108 page 8
50 francs post #36 page 3
20 + 100 francs post #111 page 8
1.000 francs post #106 page 8

petronius

 

There were not too separate French governments in Metropolitan France during WWII (unless you count DeGaulle's Free French movement but that was outside the country). There was France. At the beginning of the war, part of France was occupied by Germany and included Paris. The French seat of government was moved from Paris to Vichy as a result of the occupation. The French civil authorities still functioned in occupied France as well as unoccupied France and answered to the government in Vichy even in occupied France. By the end of 1942 all of France was occupied by Germany (and Italy in portions of the south) but the seat of the French government remained in Vichy.

The Banque de France continued to issue notes in all of France whether occupied or unoccupied. Pre-war notes of the Banque remained legal tender during the war. All issues of the Banque were legal tender after liberation even those that were only issued during the period the government was in Vichy. In addition to the suplemental franc notes (P-114-120) the Allied armies brought with them pre-war Banque de France notes that were in Allied possession (mostly held in US and UK banks and the Bank of England) prior to the war or seized in the French possessions in North Africa.

Petronius makes a distinction between notes issued in occupied France and Vichy France. That distinction did not really exist. The notes are all Banque de France notes that were issued in both occupied and unoccupied France.

 

Yeah, all notes were issued by Banque de France, but those in the occupied area in Paris, those of the Republic of Vichy, in Vichy.

And notes issued in Vichy, were issued mainly to supply money the German troops, otherwise Banque de France would continue to issue only the older types.

And were issued so many, outside of any control, thereby causing the rise in inflation.

And with this devalued francs, Germans acquired most of the French private capital, purchasing shares in multinational corporations, such as refineries of Bor and mines in Alsace and Lorraine.

For all above mentioned, I think that, from a historical, economic and political point of view, it's right to call these notes "Vichy notes."

But also from a numismatic point of view, I think that we can see some differences.

These notes are printed on paper of poorer quality, are smaller in size than those in the occupied zone (to save paper) and also their design and colors are less cared.

I hope I explained my opinion, I apologize if, using English language, something is not clear.

petronius

 

Project of Polish 500 Zloty banknote

 

I've got some of these, and I may just know where they be! If'n I find 'em, I'll add to this thread.

 

"Notgeld?"

These look very similar to what you refer to as 'notgeld'.

All I know about them could be written on the back of a postage stamp, and leave room for a signature & date.

I've got, maybe, 40 to 60 of 'em, with a few duplicates. What's their history?

More pics on demand; individuals too, if required.

 

More of the same



Thanks for lookin'!

 

1913 Chihuahua Cinco peso pair

These were Uncle's, and I just got 'em in Dad's stuff.

Interesting to me is the serial number sequence; they are in near-uncirculated condition. No watermark that I can find.

 

Petronius: In Dad's pile of stuff is an envelope marked: "Weimar Vouchers". The six items in it bear a strong resemblance to your 'notgeld', and the follow-up small notes I've added to this thread.

The Weimar Republic was between the wars; I'm aware of the rampant inflation during that time...and I have a few of the very high denomination government notes, some with even higher over-stamped values.

Are these small, colorful, low denomination, cheap paper notes related to the 'official' banknotes...or did they precede or succeed their use? I'm puzzled. Thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notgeld : An interesting article, and so very informative to an ignorant person. Now all I need is a way to display these bright, confetti-like delights!

 

Yes, they are notgeld.

Most of them are Germans, but you have also some Austrian, those named as "heller" (Austrian cents).

For their history, the wiki link is a good start point.

Another example of Austrian notgeld, in heller, from city of Steyr



petronius :smile

 

A very complete site

German Notgeld

petronius :smile

 

Thanks Lettow and Petronius for your descriptions of banknote printing during occupation, I appreciate it!

Dave

 

Thanks for the notgeld discussion and links. I've had this old note for over 50 years - got it from my father, I think. Terrible shape, but I've often wondered what exactly it was. Now I know!





I found it in the boydle link:

http://germannotgeld.com/Lucken Walde.mhtml

Thanks again.

 

The name of the place is just one word, by the way - Luckenwalde. The spelling on that web page is a little odd. Today the town is in the state of Brandenburg. The upper image shows Luckenwalde's coat of arms; the lower one has a hat, referring to an important "industry" in the town at that time.

Christian

 

Thanks for the additional info. Christian!

 

Got to love the notgeld....

 

I am not entirely in agreement about notgeld, but you're right on ghetto notes, they are off topic, I apologize with you and CT forum.

Could be possible open a new thread, where Moderators can transfer posts about ghetto?

Or, if it's not possible, please delete them.

petronius.

 

They just did - see here: http://www.cointalk.com/t221617/

Here is a 50 gulden note from the Netherlands (image: Creative Review) which I have always liked a lot. One of the many notes that "Ootje" Oxenaar designed; and while his early works are not so great in my view, his later works such as this one are great.

Christian