1939 – Germany 20 Reichsmark Banknote –XF+ - Alpine Girl & Bavarian Landscape Design

1939 – Germany 20 Reichsmark Banknote –XF+ - Alpine Girl & Bavarian Landscape Design
CA$85.00

This 1939 German 20 Reichsmark banknote is a beautifully engraved pre-WWII issue from the Deutsche Reichsbank. The front of the note features a finely detailed portrait of a young woman in traditional Alpine dress, holding an edelweiss flower — a symbol of purity and the rugged spirit of the German Alps. The intricate background patterns and Gothic lettering showcase the exceptional engraving quality typical of this late-1930s design era.

The reverse depicts a majestic Bavarian mountain landscape, framed by two figures — a hunter with a rifle and a farmer carrying a sheaf of wheat — representing the harmony between nature, labor, and homeland. The note’s watermark and multi-color guilloche patterning provide enhanced anti-counterfeiting detail, while the red serial numbers add contrast to the otherwise subdued color palette of earthy browns and blues.

Issued June 16, 1939, this note represents the final series of the 20 Reichsmark before wartime inflation and currency reforms took hold. It’s a sought-after collector’s item for those interested in Third Reich-era currency, pre-WWII German monetary history, and classical banknote artistry.

Details:

  • Country: Germany (Deutsches Reich)

  • Denomination: 20 Reichsmark

  • Date Issued: June 16, 1939

  • Issuer: Reichsbank (Berlin)

  • Front Design: Alpine woman with edelweiss

  • Back Design: Bavarian alpine lake and mountains, hunter and farmer figures

  • Serial Prefix: H-10591980 (red ink)

  • Signatory: Reichsbank President (Schacht facsimile signature)

  • Watermark: Stylized woman’s portrait

  • Dimensions: 160 × 80 mm