notgeld 1922

A weekend flea market find. A net search yielded some info about this unique form of designer money.

Notgeld was apparently German emergency money or "necessity money" printed by non-government entities during World War One and just after. It was a kind of barter note, I take it from what I read. Nearly all the notes I have seen are striking in design. Some incorporate elements of Expressionism.

from wikip --
"Notgeld was mainly issued in the form of (paper) banknotes. Sometimes other forms were used, as well: coins, leather, silk, linen, stamps, aluminium foil, coal, and porcelain; there are also reports of elemental sulfur being used, as well as all sorts of re-used paper and carton material (e.g. playing cards). These pieces made from playing cards are extremely rare and are known as Spielkarten, the German word for 'playing card'. Because it is not issued officially, Notgeld is not legal tender, but rather a mutually-accepted means of payment in a particular region or locality."