1921 - City of Quern 25 Pfennig

CA$6.00

This is a 25 Pfennig (or similar small denomination) Notgeld note issued by the Gemeinde Quern (Municipality of Quern) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, around 1921. It’s an attractive example of northern German municipal Notgeld, featuring local architecture — in this case, the village church (Kirche) — and bright regional design typical of the early 1920s.

🏦 Issuer & Origin

Issuer: Gemeinde Quern (Municipality of Quern)
Region: Schleswig-Flensburg District, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Date of Issue: Valid until 30 September 1921
Denomination: 50 Pfennig (or equivalent, depending on series)
Language: German

💶 Type of Currency

This is German Notgeld, or emergency money, issued locally during the post–World War I period (1919–1923).
After the economic collapse of the German Empire, metal coins vanished from circulation due to inflation and hoarding.
Municipalities across Germany began issuing colorful printed vouchers (Gutscheine) in small denominations — 10, 25, 50 Pfennig, and 1 Mark — to sustain local trade.

By 1921, many of these issues had become collectible art, reflecting local pride and architecture rather than serving purely economic functions.

🎨 Design & Artistic Details

Front (obverse):
- The left side shows “Kirche” (church) — the historic St. Mary’s Church of Quern, one of the oldest stone churches in the region, dating to the 12th century.
- The building is depicted in charming, detailed color lithography, surrounded by trees and a traditional stone fence — typical of Schleswig rural architecture.
- The right side contains the text:
  - “Gutschein der Gemeinden Quern” = “Voucher of the Municipality of Quern.”
  - “Gültig bis 30. Sept. 1921” = “Valid until September 30, 1921.”
  - Serial number “No. 23767” printed at bottom.
  - Signature of the issuing authority, likely the mayor or treasurer, C. Hoelt Schultz.
- The entire composition is bordered by decorative geometric patterns in blue, green, and orange tones — a style strongly associated with northern German Notgeld design.
Printing method:
- Lithographed by a regional press — probably in nearby Flensburg or Schleswig — known for producing limited municipal Notgeld sets in 1920–1921.

🕰️ Historical Context

During the Weimar Republic’s early inflation years, small towns like Quern created their own temporary money to replace scarce coins.
By 1921, when this note was issued, Notgeld had also become a cultural phenomenon. Towns competed to produce the most beautiful and locally meaningful designs — many of which depicted:

Local churches, castles, mills, and bridges,
Historic events or local proverbs,
Regional dialects (especially in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony).

The Quern note is part of that artistic wave — combining financial necessity with civic pride in local heritage.

🏰 About Quern

Quern is a small rural community in the Schleswig-Flensburg district near the Baltic Sea.
Historically part of the Danish Duchy of Schleswig until the 19th century, it retains strong Danish-German cultural influences.
The church pictured — Kirche zu Quern — is one of the defining landmarks of the region, symbolizing both faith and endurance through centuries of shifting borders.