1921 - German Town of Schleiz 50 Pfennig

1921 - German Town of Schleiz 50 Pfennig
CA$7.00

chleiz 50 Pfennig Notgeld (1921)

🏙️ Issuer

Stadt Schleiz, Thuringia (Thüringen), Germany

Date of issue: 1 December 1921
Denomination: 50 Pfennig
Type: Local emergency currency (Notgeld)
Material: Paper

🖼️ Front Design (Obverse)

  • The center features the coat of arms of Schleiz, displaying a bison (or aurochs) standing on green ground within a golden shield.

  • Above the shield is a knight’s helmet with a red bull rising, symbolizing strength and courage.

  • The coat of arms is framed by ornate baroque scrollwork in black and gold tones, with “Stadt Schleiz” and the denomination “50 Pfennig” in circular medallions on either side.

  • The date and validation text read:

    “Dieser Gutschein gilt bis 1. Dez. 1921 – Der Stadgemeindevorstand.”
    (This voucher is valid until December 1, 1921 – The City Council.)

  • Gothic lettering across the top: “Fünfzig Pfennig.”

The front side projects civic pride and heraldic grandeur—quite typical for German towns issuing Notgeld to emphasize local identity.

🖋️ Back Design (Reverse)

The reverse is artistically and historically significant:

  • Centered is a portrait of Johann Friedrich Böttger (1682–1719) — the German alchemist and inventor credited with discovering the European method of producing porcelain, first achieved at Meissen.

  • Surrounding him is a dark alchemical laboratory scene, depicting fiery furnaces and shadowy figures—possibly representing the mythical quest to transmute base metals into gold.

  • The inscription includes his name and references to his historical legacy:

    “Johann Friedrich Böttger – geb. 1682 zu Schleiz”
    (Born 1682 in Schleiz.)

This reverse celebrates Schleiz’s most famous historical figure and connects the town’s heritage to Germany’s cultural and scientific achievements.