1919 - 1921 - German City of Luneburg Heath 50 Pfennig

Front (Obverse)

• Title: “Hilfsschein des Vereins Naturschutzpark e.V., Sitz Stuttgart — Gutschein über fünfzig Pfennig.”

• Image: Silhouette scene of Heidschnucken (silver-grey heath sheep) grazing beneath trees, representing the Lüneburg Heath landscape.

• Text: Valid only in guesthouses and lodges operated by the Verein Naturschutzpark in Wilsede and Niederhaverbeck until 31 December 1921.

• Guarantee: Backed by the organization’s office in Stuttgart (Pfizerstraße 5).

• Slogan below: “Erhaltet dem deutschen Volk den Heidepark” — “Preserve for the German people the Heath Park.”

• Typography: Decorative Fraktur and Jugendstil-style black lettering on beige paper with ornate floral motifs.

Back (Reverse)

• Scene: Dramatic illustration from the Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1648) showing a mounted soldier attacking a villager in a rural setting — symbolizing the suffering of German peasants during centuries of conflict that ravaged the Heath region.

• Caption: “1618 – 1648” beneath the scene with denominations “½ Mark” in each corner in Art-Deco style ovals.

• Artistic Style: Woodcut-inspired expressionism with rich earth tones (browns, yellows, and black). The composition balances folklore, history, and regional identity.
  
  

  The Verein Naturschutzpark was a trailblazer in environmental conservation — founded in 1909 to protect the unique heath landscape of northern Germany. Its notes served a dual purpose:

  1. They acted as functional local currency within Heide Park’s lodges and guesthouses.

  2. They raised funds to support nature preservation and public education.

  Each denomination featured a distinct historical theme tied to the region — in this case, the devastation of the Thirty Years’ War on rural communities of the Heath.