1 000 000 mark 1923
Market Prices
About This Note
This Deutsche Reichsbahn 1,000,000 Mark note from August 1923 presents a striking example of hyperinflation-era German currency with excellent preservation. The salmon-pink to coral colored obverse features an ornate winged eagle emblem at center, intricate fine-line security patterns, and dual imperial eagle seals, all rendered in crisp detail. Graded AU, this note exhibits minimal wear with well-preserved colors and printing, making it an attractive example of this short-lived railway emergency currency issued during Germany's most severe monetary crisis.
Common. Despite being emergency currency from the hyperinflation crisis, Deutsche Reichsbahn notes were issued in large quantities and survive in significant numbers today. The eBay price tracking data provided shows these notes selling consistently in the $3.99 to $29.95 range across all conditions, with most AU and XF examples trading under $10 USD, indicating substantial availability in the collector market. The serial number EE No 255115 suggests a mid-range production lot, and no specific scarcity indicators are evident for this Pick number. These notes, while historically significant, remain affordable and relatively easy to obtain for collectors interested in hyperinflation currency.
Issued during the peak of the German hyperinflation crisis in August 1923, this Deutsche Reichsbahn (German Imperial Railway) emergency note represents a critical moment when state institutions began issuing their own currency as the Reichsmark collapsed. The note's expiration date of October 31, 1923, and the authorization by the Reichstransport Minister reflect the temporary nature of this issue—within weeks, the hyperinflation would be halted by the introduction of the Rentenmark. The ornate imperial iconography, including the winged eagle seals, harks back to pre-war German authority even as the note itself was a desperate measure born of monetary chaos.
The obverse of this uniface note features a salmon-pink to coral colored background with dense, fine-line decorative patterns providing both aesthetic appeal and security properties. At the top center is a winged eagle emblem (Reichsadler), a symbol of imperial authority. Two circular seals flanking the lower portion of the note each contain an imperial eagle insignia, serving as official authorization marks. The entire design is framed by a decorative geometric border composed of repeating diamond and line patterns in brown and dark ink. The text is rendered in gothic/blackletter typeface characteristic of early 20th-century German official documents. The reverse side is essentially blank, showing only the aged cream and beige paper stock, consistent with emergency currency production during the hyperinflation period when expedited printing was prioritized over elaborate reverse designs.
FRONT SIDE: 'Deutsche Reichsbahn' (German Imperial Railway) | 'Eine Million Mark' (One Million Mark) | Serial number: 'EE No 255115' | 'Dieser Schein wird an allen Kassen der Deutschen Reichsbahn wie gesetzliche Zahlmittel in Zahlung genommen und bis zum 31. Oktober 1923 eingel öst.' (This note will be accepted at all Deutsche Reichsbahn cashiers as legal tender and will be redeemed until October 31, 1923.) | 'Berlin, den 12. August 1923.' (Berlin, August 12, 1923.) | 'Des Reichsverkehrsminister:' (The Minister of Reichstransport:) | BACK SIDE: [Largely blank with no legible inscriptions]
This note was produced using intaglio letterpress printing, evidenced by the crisp, fine-line security patterns and the sharp detail visible in the winged eagle emblem and circular seals. The intricate background pattern of repeating lines serves as both a design element and a security feature to prevent counterfeiting. The uniform coloration and precise geometric borders indicate careful registration and skilled press work, typical of German security printers of the Weimar era. The printer for Deutsche Reichsbahn emergency issues of 1923 was typically a contracted German state security printer, though specific attribution for this Pick number would require archival research.
Serial prefix 'EE' indicates this note is from the second or later printing series of the August 12, 1923 issue. The specific serial number 255115 places this note within a documented range of production. No overprints, signatures, or date variations are visible on the obverse. The reversal of known varieties for Deutsche Reichsbahn 1,000,000 Mark notes (Pick S1011) typically relates to serial number prefixes (AA, BB, EE, etc.) and minor printing variations; this example with EE prefix and the observed color characteristics represents a standard variety of the regular production run.
