1921 - German Town of Lütjenburg 50 Pfennig

This colorful note is a 50 Pfennig Notgeld (emergency money) from the town of Lütjenburg, Germany — issued around 1921 — part of the famous “De Bottermelkskrieg” (The Buttermilk War) series.

🏛️ Description

• Issuer: Stadt Lütjenburg (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)

• Date of Issue: Circa 1921

• Denomination: 50 Pfennig

• Series Title: De Bottermelkskrieg (“The Buttermilk War”)

• Subtitle on Note: “Die Dänen kommen” — “The Danes are coming”

• Artist: W. Kaufmann (signed lower right)

• Printer: Lith. Anstalt, Hamburg

• Language: Low German (Plattdeutsch) and German mix

🎨 Design and Theme

This note depicts a humorous illustration from the Buttermilk War — a mock battle said to have occurred between villagers and Danish soldiers in northern Germany in the early 19th century.

• Central Scene: A woman runs from a cottage shouting “Die Dänen kommen!” (“The Danes are coming!”) as Danish troops appear on the horizon near the coast.

• Left Panel: A comically plump Danish soldier.

• Right Panel: Another soldier blowing a horn.

• Colors: Muted blue, olive green, and cream tones typical of 1920s lithographic Notgeld.

• Inscription at bottom: “to Lütjenborg” (the Low German name for Lütjenburg).

The De Bottermelkskrieg series of notes from Lütjenburg humorously commemorates the local legend where townspeople reportedly defended their buttermilk stores against Danish invaders — a parody of actual 19th-century border skirmishes.