1921 -German Town of Grabow 10 Pfennig

1921 -German Town of Grabow 10 Pfennig
CA$6.00

Origin and Type

  • Issuer: Stadt Grabow (Town of Grabow, Mecklenburg region, Germany)

  • Denomination: 10 Pfennig

  • Date of Issue: Circa 1921 (part of the German Notgeld boom years: 1919–1923)

  • Type: Local emergency currency (Kleingeldscheine — small change notes)

  • Material: Paper, printed in multicolor lithograph

🎨 Design and Imagery

The note shows stylized figures with exaggerated forms in a cartoon-expressionist style common in German Notgeld design of the early 1920s.

  • The two large figures appear to be struggling with oversized coins labeled “10”, symbolizing the devaluation of money and the burden of inflation.

  • The smaller figures watching may represent ordinary citizens or the societal impact of currency instability.

  • Colors: Dominant purple, black, and orange, creating a striking and somewhat satirical tone.

  • The typography (“GRABOW”) is bold and art-deco inspired, reflecting regional pride and design trends of the era.

    Back of the Note 

    This side of the note features a rural farming scene rendered in bold woodcut-style graphics:

    • A horse-drawn cart loaded with grain or produce is surrounded by townspeople.

    • On the right, a farmer plows a field, symbolizing labor, productivity, and agricultural life.

    • The large numeral “10” represents the denomination (10 Pfennig).

    • The scene is framed by orange and black printing, with a decorative purple plant motif on the right (likely symbolizing harvest or growth).

    💬 Text and Translation

    The inscription across the middle is written in Low German (Plattdeutsch), a dialect often used humorously or proverbially on Notgeld issues from northern Germany:

    “Dat is en flücht’gen Kerl, de sin Recht nicht utkännt.”
    (That is a sly fellow who does not know his rights.)

    This is a local proverb, likely a humorous jab at someone ignorant of local laws or customs — reflecting the social commentary often embedded in Notgeld art.

    Below the image, the official statement reads in standard German:

    “Dieser Schein gilt nur im inneren Stadtverkehr bis zum 31. Dez. 1921.
    Der Rat der Stadt Grabow.”
    (This note is valid only within the town limits until December 31, 1921.
    The Council of the Town of Grabow.)

     

💬 Text Elements

  • “10 Pf.” = 10 Pfennig (face value)

  • “Notgeld Grabow” = “Emergency Money of Grabow”

💰 Historical Context