The Bielefeld town savings bank (stadtsparkasse) issued many of
its notgeld pieces on materials (stoffgeld) such as linen, silk and velvet, as
well as the more common paper issues. Many of these issues had lace and
embroidery edging which were quite elaborate. Surely, most collectors would keep
these lovely pieces, rather than redeeming them at their face value, thought the
town savings bank? (A bright idea the bank had come up with).
The top note depicted here is made of a fine linen cloth and is of the value
1/2 a goldmark. The 2nd note depicted shows the reverse of the note, but has
been taken from the paper issue. The last note shows the obverse of the
1Goldmark note. The reverse is similar to the half goldmark note but has the
orange/yellow/purple colours. The child holding the turnip, is a reference to
the many turnip fields that were in this area. The Bielefeld turnip fields had
played an important role in feeding the population, especially in the hard
winter months of the war. The date of issue for the notes was 24 November 1923.
They have a redemption date on the reverse of 16-31.3.1924.
I currently have 8 different paper wertbestandiges pieces, 6 different fine
linen wertbestandiges pieces, 8 different velvet pieces, 8 different jute/sacking
material and 69 different linen and silk pieces, some with different edgings .....
.........all from Bielefeld. I have 143 different pieces in total issued in Bielefeld.
My favourites are the silk/linen 100m pieces, of which I have 18 different.
Bielefeld did not issue leather pieces. If you see the letters 'PR RUST' on some of
the notes, pricked through the paper, it stands for the names of the 3 Buergermeisters,
Pries, Ruscher & Stapenhorst. There is a book which shows some of these notes in colour entitled
'Das Geld der mageren Jahre', written by Guenter Gerke - (The currency of the meagre years).
A couple of the illustrated embroidered pieces were made for the town saving's bank director, Hanke.
The pieces were made for his own personal collection and as such, are unique!
The 100m notes appear to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the city of Bielefeld. In 1221, this
little linen town in the county of Ravensberg, had its status elevated to that of 'city'. As momentos, these silk and linen notes were produced, for the citizens that were worthy of the occasion. Coins and medals could not be struck in precious metals, due to demonetization.
Please click the back button to return here, once you have viewed the above items
