1921 - German District of Winsen, Lower Saxony 25 Pfennig

🏛️ Overview

• Issuer: Kreis Winsen (District of Winsen), Lower Saxony, Germany

• Denomination: 25 Pfennig

• Type: Notgeld (Municipal Emergency Money)

• Date of Issue: Circa 1921

• Printer: Edler & Krische, Hannover (credited at the bottom of the note)

• Series: Agricultural-themed Notgeld series from Lower Saxony municipalities

🎨 Design Description

Front (as shown):

• Dominant Text:
  “Kreis Winsen Notgeld” — “District of Winsen Emergency Money.”
  “Nr. 378270” — Serial number, printed in black.

• Denomination:
  Large “25” printed in elegant tan-pink ink on a black circular field at left; a matching blank medallion appears at right (perhaps used for anti-counterfeiting texture).

• Central Artwork:
  A pastoral rural scene featuring a shepherd standing in a field with his flock of sheep and a loyal herding dog.
  In the distance are small thatched farmhouses and windbreak trees, under a stylized cloudy sky.

  The design reflects the agrarian identity of Lower Saxony, emphasizing simple labor, self-sufficiency, and the importance of farming and livestock during postwar hardship.

• Color Palette:
  Soft earthy tones — black, brown, green, and cream — printed in fine detail, typical of Edler & Krische’s lithographic craftsmanship.

• Typography:
  Sharp Art Nouveau lettering and framing, cleanly structured for both beauty and readability.

🕰️ Historical Context

In the aftermath of World War I (1918–1923), Germany experienced severe coin shortages and rampant inflation.
To maintain local commerce, towns and districts issued their own Notgeld — “emergency money” — often in small denominations (10, 25, 50 Pfennig).

Winsen, a small rural district in northern Germany, issued this note in 1921 as part of a regional series highlighting agricultural life — a reminder of stability and productivity in uncertain economic times.