2 korun 1945

Rare. This note is unlisted in the Pick Standard Catalog, indicating it was either not previously documented in major reference works or represents a variant of a known issue. Prison camp scrip from WWII-era Czechoslovakia, particularly from specific facilities like Jachymovské Dóly, is inherently scarce due to limited original issuance, high destruction rates, and restricted post-war survival. The AU condition grade further enhances rarity, as camp currencies typically circulated heavily or were discarded. The combination of unlisted status, specific institutional origin, and pristine condition makes this a valuable piece for specialized collections.

This prison camp scrip was issued during the final months of World War II by the Jachymovské Dóly (Jachymov Mines) facility in the Horní Slavkov region of Czechoslovakia, as indicated by the inscriptions on the obverse. The designation 'Národní Podnik' (National Enterprise) reflects the state-controlled nature of the mining operation, which served as both an industrial facility and internment location during the Nazi occupation and subsequent Soviet control. Such camp currencies are historically significant numismatic documents of wartime forced labor and post-war transitional institutional currency.

The obverse features a minimalist yet striking design centered on a large numeral '2' rendered in dark gray or blue text against a yellow-gold field. The background is filled with a geometric lattice or interlocking pattern creating visual depth and texture. Four decorative circular emblems—likely representing industrial or organizational insignia—are positioned in each corner of the note. The overall aesthetic reflects 1940s institutional design principles, with functionality prioritized over elaborate portraiture or symbolic imagery typical of regular circulation currency. The reverse is blank or plain cream-colored, consistent with emergency or camp-issued scrip conventions.

Front side: 'JACHYMOVSKÉ DÓLY' (Jachymov Mines), 'NÁRODNÍ PODNIK' (National Enterprise), and 'HORNÍ SLAVKOV' (Horní Slavkov, the regional designation). Back side: No inscriptions present.

Likely produced via letterpress or offset lithography, printing methods standard for wartime institutional currency production in Central Europe. The relatively simple geometric design and uniform color registration suggest single-color or limited-color printing suitable for rapid production by a camp or regional printing facility. No security printer attribution is documented for this unlisted Pick variety.

No specific variety details are discernible from the visual analysis provided (no visible serial numbers, signatures, or date variants are documented in the images). As an unlisted Pick number, this note may represent an undocumented variety or a previously unrecorded emission from the Jachymovské Dóly facility. Researchers and collectors should note any serial number ranges, printing variants, or denominations in related research to establish the full scope of this camp's currency output.