1921 - German Town of Salzuflen 50 Pfennig

1921 - German Town of Salzuflen 50 Pfennig
CA$8.00

Bad Salzuflen 50 Pfennig Notgeld (1921)

🏙️ Issuer

Stadt Bad Salzuflen, North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany
Date of issue: May 1921
Denomination: 50 Pfennig
Type: Local emergency money (Notgeld)
Material: Paper

🖼️ Front Design (Obverse)

  • Portrait: The central figure is Eduard Hoffmann, a respected local official and former mayor of Bad Salzuflen, honored for his civic contributions to the spa town’s development.

  • Denominations: “50 Pf[ennig]” appears on both sides of the portrait, framed in stylized black and beige scrollwork.

  • The top inscription reads:

    “Notgeld der Stadt Bad Salzuflen”
    (Emergency Money of the City of Bad Salzuflen)

  • Text along the bottom specifies the note’s validity:

    “Die Gültigkeit erlischt 1 Monat nach Bekanntgabe. Salzuflen im Mai 21. Der Magistrat …”
    (Validity expires one month after notice. Salzuflen, May 1921. The City Council …)

This side reflects the official and civic nature of the note, with a dignified portrait and formal script.

🐈 Back Design (Reverse)

A completely different tone — colorful, whimsical, and rich in symbolism:

  • Central Shield: The red and black city coat of arms of Bad Salzuflen featuring three salt towers, representing the region’s historic salt production (hence the name Salzuflen = “salt springs”).

  • White Cat (“Salzufler Katze”): Sitting beside the crest is a white cat, a local emblem associated with both good fortune and local folklore.

  • Color Scheme: Deep red, blue-gray, and black, giving a striking Art Deco feel.

  • Decorative Banner Text (in Fraktur script):

    “So lang de witte Katt lebt, geiht dat Salzuflen Stadt nich unner.”
    (As long as the white cat lives, the town of Salzuflen will not perish.)

This motto blends humor, superstition, and civic pride, making this note one of the more memorable and collectable Notgeld designs from the spa towns of Germany.

💬 Historical Context

Bad Salzuflen was known as a spa and salt-producing town, and during the 1921 Notgeld period, it issued a series of vividly illustrated 25 and 50 Pfennig notes.
These notes circulated locally and became souvenirs for visitors — especially spa guests — which helped towns economically during hyperinflation.

The cat motif became locally famous and is still referenced in Salzuflen’s cultural identity today.