100 mark 1922

Common. The eBay price data shows consistent sales activity with notes in Fine condition selling in the $35-$84 range across multiple years (2010-2020), and PMG-graded examples (62-66) achieving $184-$374. The catalog value of $400 for UNC is reasonable but not exceptional. Danzig's Notgeldscheine were produced in substantial quantities to address the currency crisis, and this particular denomination and design appear regularly in the collector market, indicating healthy availability. The note is not scarce or rare; rather, it represents a commonly encountered and affordable example of Free City emergency currency.

Issued during the height of the Weimar hyperinflation crisis in late 1922, this Notgeldschein represents the Free City of Danzig's municipal response to severe currency shortages. The note's architectural imagery—featuring St. Mary's Church (Marienkirche) and other Danzig civic landmarks—served both as security elements and as expressions of local civic pride during a period of extreme economic instability. The Senate of Danzig issued such emergency notes under authority granted during the post-WWI period when the city functioned as a semi-autonomous Free City under League of Nations administration.

The obverse features a prominent circular vignette depicting St. Mary's Church (Marienkirche), Danzig's iconic Gothic cathedral with its characteristic tall tower and multiple spires, rendered in dark green against a cream-colored background with fine crosshatch security printing. Large denomination numerals '100' flank the central vignette on both sides. The reverse is divided into three distinct elements: on the left, a fortified castle or tower building in an ornamental frame; in the center, the civic coat of arms of Danzig featuring a shield with crosses, supported by two heraldic lions; and on the right, a Gothic chapel or church with pointed arches and ornate windows. The serial number '041503' appears in red ink in both upper left and lower right corners of the reverse. Ornate decorative scrollwork and flourishes frame all elements, typical of municipal bond and emergency currency design conventions of the period.

OBVERSE: 'Notgeldschein der Stadtgemeinde Danzig' (Emergency currency note of the city municipality Danzig) / '100' and 'Hundert Mark' (One Hundred Mark) / 'Deutsche Reichswährung' (German Reich currency) / 'Danzig, den 31. Oktober 1922' (Danzig, October 31, 1922) / 'Der Senat' (The Senate) / 'Verwaltung der Stadtgemeinde Danzig' (Administration of the city municipality of Danzig). REVERSE: '100' / 'Mark' / 'Deutsche Reichswährung' (German Reich currency) / 'Dieser Notgeldschein wird ungültig, wenn er nicht innerhalb von vier Wochen nach Aufförderung des Senates, Verwaltung der Stadtgemeinde Danzig, bei der hierin benannten Danzig Angebot wird' (This emergency note becomes invalid if it is not returned within four weeks of the Senate's request, administration of the city municipality of Danzig, to the Danzig office named herein) / Serial number: '041503' (printed in red).

The note was produced using letterpress and/or intaglio printing techniques, evidenced by the crisp, sharp detail visible in the fine crosshatch background patterns, the ornate decorative elements, and the clearly defined architectural vignettes. The red serial number printing appears to have been applied as a separate operation, likely via letterpress. The uniform color saturation and precision of the green ink on the obverse and the black printing throughout are consistent with professional security printing standards employed by major German printers during the Weimar period. The specific printer for this Danzig municipal issue is not definitively documented in standard references, but such notes typically came from established security printers serving municipal governments.

This specific note is identified as Pick P-13, with the serial number 041503 visible on the reverse. The visual analysis confirms the standard design with the date of October 31, 1922, and the issuing authority clearly identified as 'Der Senat' and 'Verwaltung der Stadtgemeinde Danzig.' According to the PMG Population Report, only one variant is catalogued for this Pick base number. No overprints, signatures, or significant design variations are evident on this example. The consistent date and serial number placement across all known examples of this type suggests a single printing run with sequential numbering.