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Reichsmark

The Reichsmark (German: [ˈʁaɪçsˌmaʁk] (listen); sign: ℛ︁ℳ︁; abbreviation: RM) was the currency of Germany from 1924 until 20 June 1948 in West Germany, where it was replaced by the Deutsche Mark, and until 23 June 1948 in East Germany, where it was replaced by the East German mark. The Reichsmark was subdivided into 100 Reichspfennigs (Rpf[1] or ℛ︁₰). The Mark is an ancient Germanic weight measure, traditionally a half pound, later used for several coins; whereas Reich (realm in English), comes from the official name for the German state from 1871 to 1945, Deutsches Reich.

Reichsmark
2 ℛ︁ℳ︁—coin depicting Paul von Hindenburg5 ℛ︁ℳ︁—banknote depicting an allegorical German youth
Unit
PluralReichsmark
Symbolℛ︁ℳ︁
Denominations
Subunit
1100Reichspfennig
Plural
ReichspfennigReichspfennig
Banknotes5 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 10 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 20 ℛ︁ℳ︁ 50 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 100 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 1,000 ℛ︁ℳ︁
Coins1 ℛ︁₰, 2 ℛ︁₰, 5 ℛ︁₰, 10 ℛ︁₰, 50 ℛ︁₰, 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 2 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁
Demographics
Date of introduction1924
ReplacedGerman Rentenmark
Date of withdrawal
  • June 20, 1948 (West Germany)
  • June 23, 1948 (East Germany)
Replaced by
User(s)
Issuance
Central bankReichsbank
Valuation
Pegged byBelgian franc, Bohemian and Moravian koruna, Bulgarian lev, Danish krone, French franc, Italian lira, Luxembourg franc, Dutch gulden, Norwegian krone, Polish złoty, Serbian dinar, Slovak koruna, Ukrainian karbovanets in World War II as similar rates
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

History

The Reichsmark was introduced in 1924 as a permanent replacement for the Papiermark. This was necessary due to the 1920s German inflation which had reached its peak in 1923. The exchange rate between the old Papiermark and the Reichsmark was 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁ = 1012ℳ︁ (one trillion in American English and French, one billion in German and other European languages and British English of the time; see long and short scale). To stabilize the economy and to smooth the transition, the Papiermark was not directly replaced by the Reichsmark, but by the Rentenmark, an interim currency backed by the Deutsche Rentenbank, owning industrial and agricultural real estate assets. The Reichsmark was put on the gold standard at the rate previously used by the German mark, with the U.S. dollar worth 4.20 ℛ︁ℳ︁.

Expansion outside the Reichsmark

During this period a number of shell companies were created and authorized to issue bonds outside the Reichsmark in order to finance state projects.[2] Nominally exchangeable at a 1:1 rate for Reichsmarks but then discounted by the Reichsbank this created secret monetary expansion without formally renouncing the gold standard of the Reichsmark.[3]

World War II

With the annexation of the Federal State of Austria by Germany in 1938, the Reichsmark replaced the Austrian schilling. During the Second World War, Germany established fixed exchange rates between the Reichsmark and the currencies of the occupied and allied countries, often set so as to give economic benefits to German soldiers and civilian contractors, who were paid their wages in local currency. The rates were as follows:

Currency Date set Value per 10 ℛ︁ℳ︁
Belgian franc May 1940 100 fr.
July 1940 125 fr.
Bohemian and Moravian koruna April 1939 100 K.
Bulgarian lev 1940 333.33 лв.
Danish krone 1940 10 kr.
French franc May 1940 200 fr.
Italian lira 1943 Lit.100
Luxembourg franc May 1940 40 fr.
July 1940 100 fr.
Dutch guilder 10 May 1940 ƒ6.66
17 July 1940 ƒ7.57
Norwegian krone 1940 13.33 kr.
? 17.50 kr.
Polish złoty 1939 20 zł.
Sterling (Channel Islands) 1940 17s. 4+12d.
Independent State of Croatia kuna April 1941 200 kn.
Slovak koruna 1939 100 Sk.
1 October 1940 116.20 Sk.
Finnish mark 1941 Mk.197.44

Post-war

After the Second World War, the Reichsmark continued to circulate in Germany, but with new banknotes (Allied Occupation Marks) printed in the US and in the Soviet Zone, as well as with coins (without swastikas). Inflation in the final months of the war had reduced the value of the Reichsmark from 2.50 ℛ︁ℳ︁ = $1US to 10 ℛ︁ℳ︁ = $1US and a barter economy had emerged due to the rapid depreciation. The Reichsmark was replaced by the Deutsche Mark at a rate of 10:1 (1:1 for cash and current accounts) in June 1948 in the Trizone and later in the same year by the East German mark in the Soviet Occupation Zone (colloquially also "Ostmark", since 1968 officially "Mark der DDR"). The 1948 currency reform under the direction of Ludwig Erhard is considered the beginning of the West German economic recovery; however, the secret plan to introduce the Deutsche Mark in the Trizone was formulated by economist Edward A. Tenenbaum of the US military government, and was executed abruptly on 21 June 1948. Three days later, the new currency also replaced the Reichsmark in the three Western sectors of Berlin. In November 1945, the Reichsmark was superseded by the Second Austrian schilling in Austria. In 1947 a local currency (the Saar mark, later replaced with the Saar franc) was introduced in the Saar.

Coins

 
5 Reichsmark coins without (1936) and with (1938) the Nazi swastika
 
Prewar bronze Reichspfennig (obverse)
 
Wartime zinc Reichspfennig (obverse)
 
Aluminium 50 ℛ︁₰ coin (obverse)

In 1924, coins were introduced in denominations of 1 ℛ︁₰, 2 ℛ︁₰, 5 ℛ︁₰, 10 ℛ︁₰, and 50 ℛ︁₰, and 1 ℳ︁ and 3 ℳ︁. The 1 ℛ︁₰ and 2 ℛ︁₰ were struck in bronze, and depicted a wheat sheaf. The 5 ℛ︁₰, 10 ℛ︁₰, and 50 ℛ︁₰ were struck in aluminium-bronze and depicted wheat stocks crossed into a stylized pattern. The two highest denominations were struck in .500 fine silver and depicted the German eagle standard. In 1925, .500 fine silver 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁ and 2 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coins were introduced for circulation, along with the first of many commemorative 3 ℛ︁ℳ︁ and 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coins. In 1927, nickel 50 ℛ︁₰ coins were introduced along with regular-type 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coins, followed by the 3 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coin in 1931.

Nazi Germany had a number of mints. Each mint location had its own identifiable letter. It is therefore possible to identify exactly which mint produced what coin by noting the mint mark on the coin. Not all mints were authorized to produce coins every year. The mints were also only authorized to produce a set number of coins with some mints allocated a greater production than others. Some of the coins with particular mint marks are therefore scarcer than others. With the silver 2 ℛ︁ℳ︁ and 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coins, the mint mark is found under the date on the left side of the coin. On the smaller denomination Reichspfennig coins, the mint mark is found on the bottom center of the coin.

  • A = Berlin
  • B = Vienna
  • D = Munich
  • E = Muldenhütten
  • F = Stuttgart
  • G = Karlsruhe
  • J = Hamburg

4 ℛ︁₰ coins were issued in 1932 as part of a failed attempt by the Reichskanzler Heinrich Brüning to reduce prices through use of 4 ℛ︁₰ pieces instead of 5 ℛ︁₰ coins. Known as the Brüningtaler or Armer Heinrich ("poor Heinrich"), they were demonetized the following year. See Brüningtaler (in German). The quality of the Reichsmark coins decreased more and more towards the end of World War II and misprints happened more frequently. This led to an increase in counterfeiting of money.

Production of silver 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coins ended in 1927. In 1933, nickel 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coins were introduced, and new silver 2 ℛ︁ℳ︁ and 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coins were introduced which were smaller but struck in .625 and .900 fineness so as to maintain the amount of silver. Between 1933 and 1939, a number of commemorative 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁ pieces were issued. Production of the 3 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coin ceased altogether. In 1935, aluminium 50 ℛ︁₰ coins were introduced, initially for just the one year. In 1937, nickel 50 ℛ︁₰ coins were issued and continued to be produced up to 1939, before reverting to aluminum. From 1936 on, all coins except the 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁ and the first version (1935–36) of the 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coin (bearing the image of the late president Paul von Hindenburg) bore the Nazi state insignia. The eagle had two standard designs on most coin denominations, a soaring eagle and large swastika depicted on most earlier issues, and a more 'aggressive' eagle with less prominent swastika which became predominant in the 1940s.

During World War II, bronze and aluminium-bronze coins were replaced by zinc and aluminium, with the 2 ℛ︁₰ discontinued for potential of being too easily mistaken for the 5 ℛ︁₰ when struck in the same metal. The 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 2 ℛ︁ℳ︁, and 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁ coins were no longer issued, replaced instead by banknotes. Aluminium 50 ℛ︁₰ coins were reintroduced to replace the nickel versions. This time around they had a longer run, being produced from 1939 to 1944. Lower denominations were produced in zinc from 1940 onwards. Due to their composition, these coins had poor durability and are hard to find in very good condition. The last production of coins bearing the swastika was in 1944 (1 ℛ︁₰, 5 ℛ︁₰, 10 ℛ︁₰, and 50 ℛ︁₰) and 1945 (1 ℛ︁₰ and 10 ℛ︁₰ only).

After the war, the Allies issued coins in relatively small numbers between 1945 and 1948:

  • 1945–46: 1 ℛ︁₰ and 10 ℛ︁₰
  • 1947–48: 5 ℛ︁₰ and 10 ℛ︁₰

These coins were issued with designs very similar to those minted in 1944–45, with the eagle changed to the pre-1935 die.

10 Reichspfennig

10 Reichspfennig
Value10 Reichspfennig
Mass3.52 g
Diameter21 mm
Thickness1.5 mm
EdgePlain
Composition100% Zn
Years of minting1940-1945
Obverse
 
DesignReichsadler with swastika.
Lettering:
Deutsches Reich 1940
Reverse
 
DesignDenomination and two oak leaves. Mintmark below the denomination and between leaves.
Lettering:
10 Reichspfennig J

The zinc 10 Reichspfennig coin was minted by Nazi Germany between 1940 and 1945 during World War II, replacing the aluminium-bronze version, which had a distinct golden colour. It is worth 1/10 or .10 of a Reichsmark. Made entirely of zinc, the 10 ℛ︁₰ is an emergency issue type, similar to the zinc 1 ℛ︁₰ and 5 ℛ︁₰, and the aluminium 50 ℛ︁₰ coins from the same period.

Mint marks

Mint mark Mint location Notes
A[4] State Mint Berlin, Germany Capital of Germany
B Austrian Mint Vienna, Austria Capital of Austria
D Bavarian Central Mint Munich, Germany Capital of Bavaria
E Muldenhütten Mint [de] near Dresden, Germany Capital of Saxony
F State Mint [de] Stuttgart, Germany Capital of Württemberg
G State Mint [de] Karlsruhe, Germany Capital of Baden
J Mint of Hamburg, Germany

Mintage

 
Prewar 10 Reichspfennig (1938A, obverse)
 
Prewar 10 Reichspfennig (1938A, reverse)
1940
Year Mintage Notes
1940 A 212,948,000
1940 B 76,274,000
1940 D 45,434,000
1940 E 34,350,000
1940 F 27,603,000
1940 G 27,308,000
1940 J 41,678,000
1941
Year Mintage Notes
1941 A 240,284,000
1941 B 70,747,000
1941 D 77,560,000
1941 E 36,548,000
1941 F 42,834,000
1941 G 28,765,000
1941 J 30,525,000
1942
Year Mintage Notes
1942 A 184,545,000
1942 B 16,329,000
1942 D 40,852,000
1942 E 18,334,000
1942 F 32,690,000
1942 G 20,295,000
1942 J 29,957,000
1943
Year Mintage Notes
1943 A 157,357,000
1943 B 11,940,000
1943 D 17,304,000
1943 E 10,445,000
1943 F 24,804,000
1943 G 3,618,000 Rare
1943 J 1,821,000 Rare
1944
Year Mintage Notes
1944 A 84,164,000
1944 B 40,781,000
1944 D 30,369,000
1944 E 29,963,000
1944 F 19,639,000
1944 G 13,023,000
1945[5]
Year Mintage Notes
1945 A 7,112,000 Rare
1945 E 4,897,000 Rare

Banknotes

The first Reichsmark banknotes were introduced by the Reichsbank and state banks such as those of Bavaria, Saxony and Baden. The first Reichsbank issue of 1924 came in denominations of 10 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 20 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 50 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 100 ℛ︁ℳ︁, and 1,000 ℛ︁ℳ︁. This was followed by a second issue in the same denominations, dated between 1929 and 1936. The second issue commemorated persons who made contributions to German agriculture, industry, economy, science, and architecture: 10 ℛ︁ℳ︁ issued in 1929 commemorated agronomist Albrecht Thaer; 20 ℛ︁ℳ︁ issued in 1929 commemorated engineer, inventor, and industrialist Werner von Siemens; 50 ℛ︁ℳ︁ issued in 1933 commemorated Prussian politician and banker David Hansemann; 100 ℛ︁ℳ︁ issued in 1935 commemorated chemist and "father of fertilizer industry" Justus von Liebig; 1,000 ℛ︁ℳ︁ issued in 1936 commemorated Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

A newer version of 20 ℛ︁ℳ︁ note was introduced in 1939, using a design taken from an unissued Austrian S100 banknote type. 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁ notes were issued in 1942. Throughout this period, the Rentenbank also issued banknotes denominated in Rentenmark, mostly in RM 1 and RM 2 denominations.

In preparation for the occupation of Germany, the United States issued occupation banknotes dated 1944, printed by the Forbes Lithograph Printing Company of Boston. These were printed in similar colours with different sizes for groups of denominations. Notes were issued for 12 ℳ︁, 1 ℳ︁, 5 ℳ︁, 10 ℳ︁, 20 ℳ︁, 50 ℳ︁, 100 ℳ︁, and 1,000 ℳ︁. The issuer was the Alliierte Militärbehörde ("Allied military authorities") with In Umlauf gesetzt in Deutschland ("in legal circulation in Germany") printed on the obverse.

These notes were convertible to US dollars at a rate of 10:1. Seeing an opportunity to procure foreign hard currency, the Soviet Union demanded copies of the engraving plates, ink, and associated equipment in early 1944, and on 14 April 1944 Henry Morgenthau and Harry Dexter White of the U.S. Treasury Department authorized the air transfer of these to the USSR. Using a printing plant in occupied Leipzig, the Soviet authorities printed large runs of occupation marks to fill Soviet coffers with dollars causing inflation and financial instability. An investigation by the United States Congress (Occupation Currency Transactions Hearings before the Committee on Appropriations, Armed Services and Banking and Currency, U.S. Senate, 1947) found that about $380,000,000 "more currency than there were appropriations for" had been circulated.

In 1947 Rhineland-Palatinate issued 5₰ and 10₰ notes with Geldschein on them.

Occupation Reichsmark

 
2 Reichsmark of the occupied territories

Coins and banknotes for circulation in the occupied territories during the war were issued by the Reichskreditkassen. Holed, zinc coins in 5 ℛ︁₰ and 10 ℛ︁₰ denominations were struck in 1940 and 1941. Banknotes were issued between 1939 and 1945 in denominations of 50 ℛ︁₰, 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 2 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 20 ℛ︁ℳ︁, and 50 ℛ︁ℳ︁. These served as legal tender alongside the currency of the occupied countries.

The coins were originally planned in great numbers of 100 million and 250 million each of the 5 ℛ︁₰ and 10 ℛ︁₰ coins respectively. The first embossing order, which was issued in April 1940, was about 40 million × 5 ℛ︁₰ and 100 million × 10 ℛ︁₰. The total amount was divided between each of the seven German mints after the embossing key of 1939. The contract was stopped in August 1940 as the Wehrmacht, which had requested the coins for Belgium and France, had no more need of it. When the embossing stopped, only Berlin ("A") and Munich ("D") produced significant quantities, but they still came to only a small extent of original production plans. The majority were melted down due to the limited supply of metal and thus, most mint marks are now quite rare (except for 1940 5 A and D, and 1940 10 A).

 
Prisoner of war camp issue of Lagergeld [de]

Concentration camp and POW Reichsmark currency

Various special issues of Reichsmark currency were issued for use in concentration and prisoner of war (POW) camps (Stalag). None were legal tender in Germany itself. From 1942 to 1943 tokens were struck for use within the Łódź Ghetto.[6][citation needed]

Military Reichsmark currency

 
Both sides of a "5 Mark" banknote, issued as "Allied Military Currency" for use within the Allied forces in Germany

Special issues of Reichsmark currency were issued for use by the Wehrmacht from 1942 to 1944. The first issue was denominated in 1 ℛ︁₰, 5 ℛ︁₰, 10 ℛ︁₰, and 50 ℛ︁₰ and 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁, but was valued at 1 military Reichspfennig = 10 civilian Reichspfennig. This series was printed on only one side. The second issue notes of 1 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 5 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 10 ℛ︁ℳ︁, and 50 ℛ︁ℳ︁ were equal in value to the ordinary German Reichsmark and were printed on both sides.

The 5 Mark note pictured, front and back, is Allied military currency ("AMC") printed at Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company in Boston for occupied Germany. There were different AMCs for each liberated area of Europe.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Reichspfennig, der" [Digital German Dictionary]. DWDS – Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache (Digital German Dictionary) (in German). Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  2. ^ Bastisch, Andre (2007). Arbeitsbeschaffungsmaßnahmen im Dritten Reich von 1933-1936. ISBN 978-3-638-68655-6. OCLC 724193260.
  3. ^ Kopper, Christopher (April 1998). "Banking in National Socialist Germany, 1933–39". Financial History Review. 5 (1): 49–62. doi:10.1017/s0968565000001414. ISSN 0968-5650. S2CID 154770245.
  4. ^ . Archived from the original on 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  5. ^ "10 Reichspfennig - Germany - 1871-1948 - Numista". Numista. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  6. ^ . www.pcgs.com. Archived from the original on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  7. ^ . Strictly G.I. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

Further reading

External links

  • Weimar coins (in English)
  • Third Reich coins (in English)
  • Weimar coins (in Russian)
  • Third Reich coins (in Russian)
  • Historical Currency Conversion Tables, Reichsmarks to Dollars, 1870s–2012
Preceded by:
Rentenmark
Reason: hyperinflation
Ratio: 1 Rentenmark = 1,000,000,000,000 Papiermark, and 4.2 Rentenmark = US$1
Currency of Germany
(Weimar Republic borders)

1924 – 1948
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
East German Mark
Reason: reaction to the changeover in Trizone (later West Germany and West Berlin)
Ratio: 1 Mark = 7 Rentenmark on the first 70 Rentenmark for private individuals, otherwise 1 Kuponmark = 10 Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Deutsche Mark
Reason: intended to protect West Germany from the second wave of hyperinflation and stop the rampant barter and black market trade
Ratio: 1 Deutsche Mark = 1 Rentenmark for first 600 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 1 Deutsche Mark = 10 Rentenmark thereafter, plus each person received 40 Deutsche Mark
Succeeded by:
Polish złoty
Reason: Transfer of the "Recovered Territories" to Poland
Ratio: None
Succeeded by:
Soviet ruble
Reason: Transfer of modern Kaliningrad Oblast to Soviet Union
Ratio: None
Preceded by:
French franc
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: ?
Currency of Saarland
1935 – 1947
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Saar mark
Reason: creation of the protectorate
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
Austrian schilling
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: 1 Mark = 1.5 Schilling
Currency of Austria
1938 – 1945
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Austrian schilling
Reason: restoration of independence
Ratio: 1:1 for first 150 Schilling
Preceded by:
Czechoslovak koruna
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: ?
Currency of Sudetenland
1938 – 1945
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Czechoslovak koruna
Reason: re-integration to Czechoslovakia
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
Lithuanian litas
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: 1 Mark = 2.5 litas
Currency of Klaipėda (Memel)
1939 – 1945
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Soviet ruble
Reason: re-integration to Soviet Union
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
Danzig gulden
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: 1 Mark = 1.43 Gulden
Currency of the Free City of Danzig
1939 – 1945
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Polish złoty
Reason: annexation to Poland
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
Polish złoty
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: 1 Mark = 2 złote
Currency of Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany
1939 – 1945
Succeeded by:
Polish złoty
Reason: re-integration to Poland
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
Belgian franc
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: 1 Mark = 12.5 franc
Currency of Eupen-Malmedy
1940 – 1945
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Belgian franc
Reason: re-integration to Belgium
Ratio: 1 Mark = 12.5 franc
Preceded by:
Luxembourgish franc
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: 1 Mark = 10 Franc
Currency of Luxembourg
1940 – 1945
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Belgian franc
Luxembourgish franc

Reason: restoration of independence
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
French franc
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: ?
Currency of Alsace-Lorraine
1940 – 1945
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
French franc
Reason: re-integration to France
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
Yugoslav dinar
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: 1 Mark = 20 dinars
Currency of North Slovenia
1941 – 1945
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Yugoslav dinar
Reason: re-integration to Yugoslavia
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
Italian lira
Reason: annexation to Germany
Ratio: ?
Currency of South Slovenia
1943 – 1945
Note: In parallel with Rentenmark
Succeeded by:
Yugoslav dinar
Reason: re-integration to Yugoslavia
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
Soviet ruble
Reason: annexation to Romania
Ratio: ?
Currency of Transnistria
1941 – 1945
Succeeded by:
Soviet ruble
Reason: re-integration to Soviet Union
Ratio: ?

reichsmark, ℛℳ, redirects, here, other, uses, disambiguation, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, february, 2017, . ℛℳ redirects here For other uses of RM see RM disambiguation This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Reichsmark German ˈʁaɪcsˌmaʁk listen sign ℛ ℳ abbreviation RM was the currency of Germany from 1924 until 20 June 1948 in West Germany where it was replaced by the Deutsche Mark and until 23 June 1948 in East Germany where it was replaced by the East German mark The Reichsmark was subdivided into 100 Reichspfennig s Rpf 1 or ℛ The Mark is an ancient Germanic weight measure traditionally a half pound later used for several coins whereas Reich realm in English comes from the official name for the German state from 1871 to 1945 Deutsches Reich Reichsmark2 ℛ ℳ coin depicting Paul von Hindenburg5 ℛ ℳ banknote depicting an allegorical German youthUnitPluralReichsmarkSymbolℛ ℳ DenominationsSubunit 1 100ReichspfennigPlural ReichspfennigReichspfennigBanknotes5 ℛ ℳ 10 ℛ ℳ 20 ℛ ℳ 50 ℛ ℳ 100 ℛ ℳ 1 000 ℛ ℳ Coins1 ℛ 2 ℛ 5 ℛ 10 ℛ 50 ℛ 1 ℛ ℳ 2 ℛ ℳ 5 ℛ ℳ DemographicsDate of introduction1924ReplacedGerman RentenmarkDate of withdrawalJune 20 1948 West Germany June 23 1948 East Germany Replaced byAM Mark Deutsche Mark West Germany East German mark East Germany User s Weimar Republic Nazi Germany Allied occupied GermanyIssuanceCentral bankReichsbankValuationPegged byBelgian franc Bohemian and Moravian koruna Bulgarian lev Danish krone French franc Italian lira Luxembourg franc Dutch gulden Norwegian krone Polish zloty Serbian dinar Slovak koruna Ukrainian karbovanets in World War II as similar ratesThis infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete Contents 1 History 1 1 Expansion outside the Reichsmark 1 2 World War II 1 3 Post war 2 Coins 2 1 10 Reichspfennig 3 Mint marks 4 Mintage 5 Banknotes 6 Occupation Reichsmark 7 Concentration camp and POW Reichsmark currency 8 Military Reichsmark currency 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External linksHistory EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Reichsmark was introduced in 1924 as a permanent replacement for the Papiermark This was necessary due to the 1920s German inflation which had reached its peak in 1923 The exchange rate between the old Papiermark and the Reichsmark was 1 ℛ ℳ 1012 ℳ one trillion in American English and French one billion in German and other European languages and British English of the time see long and short scale To stabilize the economy and to smooth the transition the Papiermark was not directly replaced by the Reichsmark but by the Rentenmark an interim currency backed by the Deutsche Rentenbank owning industrial and agricultural real estate assets The Reichsmark was put on the gold standard at the rate previously used by the German mark with the U S dollar worth 4 20 ℛ ℳ Expansion outside the Reichsmark Edit Main articles Offa bills and Mefo bills During this period a number of shell companies were created and authorized to issue bonds outside the Reichsmark in order to finance state projects 2 Nominally exchangeable at a 1 1 rate for Reichsmarks but then discounted by the Reichsbank this created secret monetary expansion without formally renouncing the gold standard of the Reichsmark 3 World War II Edit With the annexation of the Federal State of Austria by Germany in 1938 the Reichsmark replaced the Austrian schilling During the Second World War Germany established fixed exchange rates between the Reichsmark and the currencies of the occupied and allied countries often set so as to give economic benefits to German soldiers and civilian contractors who were paid their wages in local currency The rates were as follows Currency Date set Value per 10 ℛ ℳ Belgian franc May 1940 100 fr July 1940 125 fr Bohemian and Moravian koruna April 1939 100 K Bulgarian lev 1940 333 33 lv Danish krone 1940 10 kr French franc May 1940 200 fr Italian lira 1943 Lit 100Luxembourg franc May 1940 40 fr July 1940 100 fr Dutch guilder 10 May 1940 ƒ6 6617 July 1940 ƒ7 57Norwegian krone 1940 13 33 kr 17 50 kr Polish zloty 1939 20 zl Sterling Channel Islands 1940 17s 4 1 2 d Independent State of Croatia kuna April 1941 200 kn Slovak koruna 1939 100 Sk 1 October 1940 116 20 Sk Finnish mark 1941 Mk 197 44Post war Edit After the Second World War the Reichsmark continued to circulate in Germany but with new banknotes Allied Occupation Marks printed in the US and in the Soviet Zone as well as with coins without swastikas Inflation in the final months of the war had reduced the value of the Reichsmark from 2 50 ℛ ℳ 1US to 10 ℛ ℳ 1US and a barter economy had emerged due to the rapid depreciation The Reichsmark was replaced by the Deutsche Mark at a rate of 10 1 1 1 for cash and current accounts in June 1948 in the Trizone and later in the same year by the East German mark in the Soviet Occupation Zone colloquially also Ostmark since 1968 officially Mark der DDR The 1948 currency reform under the direction of Ludwig Erhard is considered the beginning of the West German economic recovery however the secret plan to introduce the Deutsche Mark in the Trizone was formulated by economist Edward A Tenenbaum of the US military government and was executed abruptly on 21 June 1948 Three days later the new currency also replaced the Reichsmark in the three Western sectors of Berlin In November 1945 the Reichsmark was superseded by the Second Austrian schilling in Austria In 1947 a local currency the Saar mark later replaced with the Saar franc was introduced in the Saar Coins EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message 5 Reichsmark coins without 1936 and with 1938 the Nazi swastika Prewar bronze Reichspfennig obverse Wartime zinc Reichspfennig obverse Aluminium 50 ℛ coin obverse In 1924 coins were introduced in denominations of 1 ℛ 2 ℛ 5 ℛ 10 ℛ and 50 ℛ and 1 ℳ and 3 ℳ The 1 ℛ and 2 ℛ were struck in bronze and depicted a wheat sheaf The 5 ℛ 10 ℛ and 50 ℛ were struck in aluminium bronze and depicted wheat stocks crossed into a stylized pattern The two highest denominations were struck in 500 fine silver and depicted the German eagle standard In 1925 500 fine silver 1 ℛ ℳ and 2 ℛ ℳ coins were introduced for circulation along with the first of many commemorative 3 ℛ ℳ and 5 ℛ ℳ coins In 1927 nickel 50 ℛ coins were introduced along with regular type 5 ℛ ℳ coins followed by the 3 ℛ ℳ coin in 1931 Nazi Germany had a number of mints Each mint location had its own identifiable letter It is therefore possible to identify exactly which mint produced what coin by noting the mint mark on the coin Not all mints were authorized to produce coins every year The mints were also only authorized to produce a set number of coins with some mints allocated a greater production than others Some of the coins with particular mint marks are therefore scarcer than others With the silver 2 ℛ ℳ and 5 ℛ ℳ coins the mint mark is found under the date on the left side of the coin On the smaller denomination Reichspfennig coins the mint mark is found on the bottom center of the coin A Berlin B Vienna D Munich E Muldenhutten F Stuttgart G Karlsruhe J Hamburg Prewar bronze 1 ℛ reverse Made of pure bronze Prewar 5 ℛ reverse Made of aluminium bronze Prewar 10 ℛ reverse Struck in the same aluminium bronze as the 5 ℛ Prewar 10 ℛ obverse 4 ℛ coins were issued in 1932 as part of a failed attempt by the Reichskanzler Heinrich Bruning to reduce prices through use of 4 ℛ pieces instead of 5 ℛ coins Known as the Bruningtaler or Armer Heinrich poor Heinrich they were demonetized the following year See Bruningtaler in German The quality of the Reichsmark coins decreased more and more towards the end of World War II and misprints happened more frequently This led to an increase in counterfeiting of money Production of silver 1 ℛ ℳ coins ended in 1927 In 1933 nickel 1 ℛ ℳ coins were introduced and new silver 2 ℛ ℳ and 5 ℛ ℳ coins were introduced which were smaller but struck in 625 and 900 fineness so as to maintain the amount of silver Between 1933 and 1939 a number of commemorative 5 ℛ ℳ pieces were issued Production of the 3 ℛ ℳ coin ceased altogether In 1935 aluminium 50 ℛ coins were introduced initially for just the one year In 1937 nickel 50 ℛ coins were issued and continued to be produced up to 1939 before reverting to aluminum From 1936 on all coins except the 1 ℛ ℳ and the first version 1935 36 of the 5 ℛ ℳ coin bearing the image of the late president Paul von Hindenburg bore the Nazi state insignia The eagle had two standard designs on most coin denominations a soaring eagle and large swastika depicted on most earlier issues and a more aggressive eagle with less prominent swastika which became predominant in the 1940s During World War II bronze and aluminium bronze coins were replaced by zinc and aluminium with the 2 ℛ discontinued for potential of being too easily mistaken for the 5 ℛ when struck in the same metal The 1 ℛ ℳ 2 ℛ ℳ and 5 ℛ ℳ coins were no longer issued replaced instead by banknotes Aluminium 50 ℛ coins were reintroduced to replace the nickel versions This time around they had a longer run being produced from 1939 to 1944 Lower denominations were produced in zinc from 1940 onwards Due to their composition these coins had poor durability and are hard to find in very good condition The last production of coins bearing the swastika was in 1944 1 ℛ 5 ℛ 10 ℛ and 50 ℛ and 1945 1 ℛ and 10 ℛ only Wartime zinc 1 Reichspfennig reverse Wartime zinc 5 Reichspfennig reverse Wartime zinc 10 Reichspfennig reverse Aluminum 50 Reichspfennig coin reverse After the war the Allies issued coins in relatively small numbers between 1945 and 1948 1945 46 1 ℛ and 10 ℛ 1947 48 5 ℛ and 10 ℛ These coins were issued with designs very similar to those minted in 1944 45 with the eagle changed to the pre 1935 die 10 Reichspfennig Edit 10 Reichspfennig Nazi GermanyValue10 ReichspfennigMass3 52 gDiameter21 mmThickness1 5 mmEdgePlainComposition100 ZnYears of minting1940 1945Obverse DesignReichsadler with swastika Lettering Deutsches Reich 1940Reverse DesignDenomination and two oak leaves Mintmark below the denomination and between leaves Lettering 10 Reichspfennig JThe zinc 10 Reichspfennig coin was minted by Nazi Germany between 1940 and 1945 during World War II replacing the aluminium bronze version which had a distinct golden colour It is worth 1 10 or 10 of a Reichsmark Made entirely of zinc the 10 ℛ is an emergency issue type similar to the zinc 1 ℛ and 5 ℛ and the aluminium 50 ℛ coins from the same period Mint marks EditMint mark Mint location NotesA 4 State Mint Berlin Germany Capital of GermanyB Austrian Mint Vienna Austria Capital of AustriaD Bavarian Central Mint Munich Germany Capital of BavariaE Muldenhutten Mint de near Dresden Germany Capital of SaxonyF State Mint de Stuttgart Germany Capital of WurttembergG State Mint de Karlsruhe Germany Capital of BadenJ Mint of Hamburg GermanyMintage Edit Prewar 10 Reichspfennig 1938A obverse Prewar 10 Reichspfennig 1938A reverse 1940 Year Mintage Notes1940 A 212 948 0001940 B 76 274 0001940 D 45 434 0001940 E 34 350 0001940 F 27 603 0001940 G 27 308 0001940 J 41 678 0001941 Year Mintage Notes1941 A 240 284 0001941 B 70 747 0001941 D 77 560 0001941 E 36 548 0001941 F 42 834 0001941 G 28 765 0001941 J 30 525 0001942 Year Mintage Notes1942 A 184 545 0001942 B 16 329 0001942 D 40 852 0001942 E 18 334 0001942 F 32 690 0001942 G 20 295 0001942 J 29 957 0001943 Year Mintage Notes1943 A 157 357 0001943 B 11 940 0001943 D 17 304 0001943 E 10 445 0001943 F 24 804 0001943 G 3 618 000 Rare1943 J 1 821 000 Rare1944 Year Mintage Notes1944 A 84 164 0001944 B 40 781 0001944 D 30 369 0001944 E 29 963 0001944 F 19 639 0001944 G 13 023 0001945 5 Year Mintage Notes1945 A 7 112 000 Rare1945 E 4 897 000 RareBanknotes EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message The first Reichsmark banknotes were introduced by the Reichsbank and state banks such as those of Bavaria Saxony and Baden The first Reichsbank issue of 1924 came in denominations of 10 ℛ ℳ 20 ℛ ℳ 50 ℛ ℳ 100 ℛ ℳ and 1 000 ℛ ℳ This was followed by a second issue in the same denominations dated between 1929 and 1936 The second issue commemorated persons who made contributions to German agriculture industry economy science and architecture 10 ℛ ℳ issued in 1929 commemorated agronomist Albrecht Thaer 20 ℛ ℳ issued in 1929 commemorated engineer inventor and industrialist Werner von Siemens 50 ℛ ℳ issued in 1933 commemorated Prussian politician and banker David Hansemann 100 ℛ ℳ issued in 1935 commemorated chemist and father of fertilizer industry Justus von Liebig 1 000 ℛ ℳ issued in 1936 commemorated Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel A newer version of 20 ℛ ℳ note was introduced in 1939 using a design taken from an unissued Austrian S100 banknote type 5 ℛ ℳ notes were issued in 1942 Throughout this period the Rentenbank also issued banknotes denominated in Rentenmark mostly in RM 1 and RM 2 denominations In preparation for the occupation of Germany the United States issued occupation banknotes dated 1944 printed by the Forbes Lithograph Printing Company of Boston These were printed in similar colours with different sizes for groups of denominations Notes were issued for 1 2 ℳ 1 ℳ 5 ℳ 10 ℳ 20 ℳ 50 ℳ 100 ℳ and 1 000 ℳ The issuer was the Alliierte Militarbehorde Allied military authorities with In Umlauf gesetzt in Deutschland in legal circulation in Germany printed on the obverse These notes were convertible to US dollars at a rate of 10 1 Seeing an opportunity to procure foreign hard currency the Soviet Union demanded copies of the engraving plates ink and associated equipment in early 1944 and on 14 April 1944 Henry Morgenthau and Harry Dexter White of the U S Treasury Department authorized the air transfer of these to the USSR Using a printing plant in occupied Leipzig the Soviet authorities printed large runs of occupation marks to fill Soviet coffers with dollars causing inflation and financial instability An investigation by the United States Congress Occupation Currency Transactions Hearings before the Committee on Appropriations Armed Services and Banking and Currency U S Senate 1947 found that about 380 000 000 more currency than there were appropriations for had been circulated In 1947 Rhineland Palatinate issued 5 and 10 notes with Geldschein on them 20 ℛ ℳ 1924 10 ℛ ℳ 1929 20 ℛ ℳ 1929 100 ℛ ℳ 1935Occupation Reichsmark EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message 2 Reichsmark of the occupied territories Coins and banknotes for circulation in the occupied territories during the war were issued by the Reichskreditkassen Holed zinc coins in 5 ℛ and 10 ℛ denominations were struck in 1940 and 1941 Banknotes were issued between 1939 and 1945 in denominations of 50 ℛ 1 ℛ ℳ 2 ℛ ℳ 5 ℛ ℳ 20 ℛ ℳ and 50 ℛ ℳ These served as legal tender alongside the currency of the occupied countries The coins were originally planned in great numbers of 100 million and 250 million each of the 5 ℛ and 10 ℛ coins respectively The first embossing order which was issued in April 1940 was about 40 million 5 ℛ and 100 million 10 ℛ The total amount was divided between each of the seven German mints after the embossing key of 1939 The contract was stopped in August 1940 as the Wehrmacht which had requested the coins for Belgium and France had no more need of it When the embossing stopped only Berlin A and Munich D produced significant quantities but they still came to only a small extent of original production plans The majority were melted down due to the limited supply of metal and thus most mint marks are now quite rare except for 1940 5 A and D and 1940 10 A Currency of the occupied countries 1940 10 J Currency of the occupied countries 1940 5 B 50 ℛ 1938 1945 1 ℛ ℳ 1938 1945 2 ℛ ℳ 1938 1945 5 ℛ ℳ 1938 1945 20 ℛ ℳ 1938 1945 50 ℛ ℳ 1938 1945 Prisoner of war camp issue of Lagergeld de Concentration camp and POW Reichsmark currency EditVarious special issues of Reichsmark currency were issued for use in concentration and prisoner of war POW camps Stalag None were legal tender in Germany itself From 1942 to 1943 tokens were struck for use within the Lodz Ghetto 6 citation needed Military Reichsmark currency EditMain article AM Mark Both sides of a 5 Mark banknote issued as Allied Military Currency for use within the Allied forces in GermanySpecial issues of Reichsmark currency were issued for use by the Wehrmacht from 1942 to 1944 The first issue was denominated in 1 ℛ 5 ℛ 10 ℛ and 50 ℛ and 1 ℛ ℳ but was valued at 1 military Reichspfennig 10 civilian Reichspfennig This series was printed on only one side The second issue notes of 1 ℛ ℳ 5 ℛ ℳ 10 ℛ ℳ and 50 ℛ ℳ were equal in value to the ordinary German Reichsmark and were printed on both sides The 5 Mark note pictured front and back is Allied military currency AMC printed at Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company in Boston for occupied Germany There were different AMCs for each liberated area of Europe 7 See also EditOffa bills 1932 German government promissory notes MEFO Financial instrument used to finance Nazi German rearmament AM Mark Pictorial list of postage stamps in Nazi GermanyPortals Germany Money Numismatics World War IIReferences Edit Reichspfennig der Digital German Dictionary DWDS Digitales Worterbuch der deutschen Sprache Digital German Dictionary in German Retrieved 2 August 2021 Bastisch Andre 2007 Arbeitsbeschaffungsmassnahmen im Dritten Reich von 1933 1936 ISBN 978 3 638 68655 6 OCLC 724193260 Kopper Christopher April 1998 Banking in National Socialist Germany 1933 39 Financial History Review 5 1 49 62 doi 10 1017 s0968565000001414 ISSN 0968 5650 S2CID 154770245 Nazi Germany Coin Mint Marks Archived from the original on 2017 12 11 Retrieved 2013 01 16 10 Reichspfennig Germany 1871 1948 Numista Numista Retrieved 2013 01 16 Lodz Ghetto Token Coinage www pcgs com Archived from the original on 2018 03 01 Retrieved 2018 03 01 Allied Military Currency Strictly G I Archived from the original on 6 January 2009 Retrieved 18 March 2015 Krause Chester L Clifford Mishler 1991 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801 1991 18th ed Krause Publications ISBN 0873411501 Pick Albert 1994 Standard Catalog of World Paper Money General Issues Colin R Bruce II and Neil Shafer editors 7th ed Krause Publications ISBN 0 87341 207 9 Further reading EditAhamed Liaquat 2009 Lords of Finance The Bankers Who Broke the World Penguin Books ISBN 978 1 59420 182 0 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reichsmark Weimar coins in English Third Reich coins in English Weimar coins in Russian Third Reich coins in Russian Historical Currency Conversion Tables Reichsmarks to Dollars 1870s 2012Preceded by RentenmarkReason hyperinflationRatio 1 Rentenmark 1 000 000 000 000 Papiermark and 4 2 Rentenmark US 1 Currency of Germany Weimar Republic borders 1924 1948Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by East German MarkReason reaction to the changeover in Trizone later West Germany and West Berlin Ratio 1 Mark 7 Rentenmark on the first 70 Rentenmark for private individuals otherwise 1 Kuponmark 10 RentenmarkSucceeded by Deutsche MarkReason intended to protect West Germany from the second wave of hyperinflation and stop the rampant barter and black market tradeRatio 1 Deutsche Mark 1 Rentenmark for first 600 ℛ ℳ 1 Deutsche Mark 10 Rentenmark thereafter plus each person received 40 Deutsche MarkSucceeded by Polish zlotyReason Transfer of the Recovered Territories to PolandRatio NoneSucceeded by Soviet rubleReason Transfer of modern Kaliningrad Oblast to Soviet UnionRatio NonePreceded by French francReason annexation to GermanyRatio Currency of Saarland 1935 1947Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by Saar markReason creation of the protectorateRatio Preceded by Austrian schillingReason annexation to GermanyRatio 1 Mark 1 5 Schilling Currency of Austria 1938 1945Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by Austrian schillingReason restoration of independenceRatio 1 1 for first 150 SchillingPreceded by Czechoslovak korunaReason annexation to GermanyRatio Currency of Sudetenland 1938 1945Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by Czechoslovak korunaReason re integration to CzechoslovakiaRatio Preceded by Lithuanian litasReason annexation to GermanyRatio 1 Mark 2 5 litas Currency of Klaipeda Memel 1939 1945Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by Soviet rubleReason re integration to Soviet UnionRatio Preceded by Danzig guldenReason annexation to GermanyRatio 1 Mark 1 43 Gulden Currency of the Free City of Danzig 1939 1945Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by Polish zlotyReason annexation to PolandRatio Preceded by Polish zlotyReason annexation to GermanyRatio 1 Mark 2 zlote Currency of Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany 1939 1945 Succeeded by Polish zlotyReason re integration to PolandRatio Preceded by Belgian francReason annexation to GermanyRatio 1 Mark 12 5 franc Currency of Eupen Malmedy 1940 1945Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by Belgian francReason re integration to BelgiumRatio 1 Mark 12 5 francPreceded by Luxembourgish francReason annexation to GermanyRatio 1 Mark 10 Franc Currency of Luxembourg 1940 1945Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by Belgian francLuxembourgish francReason restoration of independenceRatio Preceded by French francReason annexation to GermanyRatio Currency of Alsace Lorraine 1940 1945Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by French francReason re integration to FranceRatio Preceded by Yugoslav dinarReason annexation to GermanyRatio 1 Mark 20 dinars Currency of North Slovenia 1941 1945Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by Yugoslav dinarReason re integration to YugoslaviaRatio Preceded by Italian liraReason annexation to GermanyRatio Currency of South Slovenia 1943 1945Note In parallel with Rentenmark Succeeded by Yugoslav dinarReason re integration to YugoslaviaRatio Preceded by Soviet rubleReason annexation to RomaniaRatio Currency of Transnistria 1941 1945 Succeeded by Soviet rubleReason re integration to Soviet UnionRatio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reichsmark amp oldid 1161447144, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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