1921 – German City of Waisungen – 50 Pfennig

This original 1921 German Notgeld note was issued by the city of Waisungen during the post–World War I emergency currency period. The front features a dramatic and symbolic illustration of a town devastated by fire, rendered in stark black and red tones against a green field. The central oval vignette shows collapsed buildings and smoldering ruins, evoking destruction, hardship, and civic resilience. Surrounding text references local history and tragedy, making this note a powerful visual narrative rather than a simple monetary instrument.

The reverse displays an ornate Notgeldschein design with a medieval-style proclamation panel at center, framed by decorative scrollwork. The denomination 50 Pfennig appears prominently on both sides, along with official stamps, serial numbering, and municipal signatures. This reverse reflects the legal and administrative authority of the issuing town while balancing the emotional imagery of the front.

Date Issued: 1921

Denomination: 50 Pfennig

City / Town: Waisungen, Germany

Theme:
Post-war hardship, urban destruction, historical memory, and civic resilience.

This evocative Notgeld issue is a standout example of how German emergency money combined art, history, and local storytelling—highly collectible for both numismatists and collectors of illustrated historical ephemera.