1922 - German 2 Mark - Guhrau (Now Góra, Poland)

1922 - German 2 Mark - Guhrau (Now Góra, Poland)
CA$6.00
2 Mark Notgeld note issued by the city of Guhrau (now Góra, Poland) in 1922. The note features an illustration of the town's skyline. 

🏦 Issuer & Origin

  • Issuer: Stadt Guhrau (Town of Guhrau)

  • Region (at the time): Province of Lower Silesia (Niederschlesien), Germany

  • Current Location: Góra, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland

  • Date of Issue: 1922

  • Denomination: 2 Mark

💶 Type of Note

This note is a piece of German Notgeld (“Emergency Money”), issued locally by municipalities during periods of economic instability.

In 1922, Germany was in the grip of hyperinflation, as the value of the Papiermark collapsed. Small towns like Guhrau printed their own local notes to facilitate day-to-day commerce when national currency was scarce or practically worthless.

🎨 Design & Artistic Elements

  • Front (obverse):

    • Main Illustration: A finely detailed view of the town of Guhrau, showing church towers and the town center from an elevated perspective. The tall, Gothic-style tower at right likely represents the Church of St. Catherine (Katharinenkirche) — one of the town’s architectural landmarks.

    • Text:

      • “Guhrau 1922” — identifying the issuing town and year of issue.

      • “2 M” in each corner — the denomination (2 Marks).

    • Design Border: Ornate red and gold stylized frame featuring floral and vine motifs typical of Art Nouveau transitioning into Art Deco design trends of the early 1920s.

    • Printer’s mark: At the bottom, “D.R.G.M. 795579” — indicating registered German design protection, suggesting it was a privately printed Notgeld issue produced by an official printing house.

  • Color Scheme:

    • Dominantly sepia, red, and cream, giving a warm, decorative appearance. These colors were common in 1920–1922 issues, blending artistry and civic pride.

🏰 About Guhrau (Now Góra, Poland)

  • Historically part of Prussia’s Silesia Province, Guhrau was a small but prosperous market town.

  • After WWII (1945), it became part of Poland and was renamed Góra.

  • The architecture visible on the note — churches and old rooftops — captures the prewar townscape that has since partially changed due to wartime destruction and reconstruction.