1 korona 1917

Scarce. This is an unlisted Pick number municipal voucher with limited documented circulation history. As a local emergency note issued by a single town (Leibicz) during a specific historical circumstance (POW labor management), the print run would have been modest compared to national currency. The note's survival in AU condition is notable, as such local vouchers were typically handled heavily or redeemed and destroyed. Examples of similar Hungarian WWI-era municipal vouchers command modest prices ($15-40 USD) but are consistently sought by specialized collectors of emergency currency and Austrian-Hungarian ephemera. The historical significance and rarity of the specific issuer supports a 'scarce' classification.

This voucher was issued during the final year of Austria-Hungary's involvement in World War I, when the empire faced severe economic disruption and currency shortages. The note's explicit reference to 'prisoners of war assigned to work in the town's territory' reflects the widespread deployment of POW labor throughout Hungary during the war. The mayoral authority's need to issue local currency denominated in korona demonstrates how municipalities resorted to creating emergency money to facilitate commerce and manage the complex financial arrangements surrounding POW labor camps and their deposited assets.

The obverse features a formal financial document layout with centered Hungarian text explaining the voucher's purpose and redemption terms. The denomination '1 K' appears in the top left and right corners in simple numerals. An ornamental border composed of repeating circular geometric patterns frames the text, printed in teal or dark green ink on cream-colored paper. The reverse displays a circular municipal seal, likely featuring the coat of arms of Leibicz (described in the visual analysis as a shield with heraldic design and a seated figure). The seal appears to have been impressed or engraved and printed in black ink, serving as the issuing authority's official stamp. The overall design prioritizes legibility and legal authentication over decorative elements, appropriate for a municipal emergency voucher during wartime.

FRONT: '1 K' (1 Korona) | 'LEIBICZ R. T. VÁROS' (Leibicz Royal Town) | 'POLGÁRMESTERÉNEK UTALVÁNYA' (Mayor's Voucher) | '1, AZAZ EGY KORONÁRA' (1, that is ONE KORONA) | 'MELY ÖSSZEG EGY RÉSZÉT KÉPEZI A VÁROS TERÜLETÉN MUNKÁRA BEOSZTOTT HADIFOGLYOK LETETBE HELYEZETT VAGYONÁNAK.' (Which sum forms one part of the property deposited of prisoners of war assigned to work in the town's territory.) | 'EZEN UTALVÁNY CSAK LEIBICZ VÁROS TERÜLETÉN ÉRVÉNYES ÉS A HELYBELI KERESKEDŐK ÁLTAL AZ ELNÖKI LETETPÉNZTÁRBAN TÖRVÉNYES PÉNZZE BEVÄLTHATÓ.' (This voucher is valid only within Leibicz town's territory and can be exchanged for legal currency at the chairman's treasury by local merchants.) | 'LEIBICZ, 1917 JÚNIUS 15-ÉN.' (Leibicz, June 15, 1917.) | 'POLGÁRMESTER.' (Mayor.) | BACK: 'SZENTES VÁROS LEIBICZ REND TAML * POLGÁRMESTERI HATALAILA * SOHH * 1902 *' (Szentes Town Leibicz Rend Council * By Mayoral Authority * 1902 *) [Note: This reverse inscription appears to reference an earlier authority or seal design, possibly indicating reuse of an existing municipal seal from 1902.]

Letterpress printing, with the text and ornamental borders produced via metal or wooden type, and the municipal seal impression achieved through engraving or steel die stamping. The precise, clean registration of the teal/dark green ink text on cream paper and the crisp impression of the heraldic seal on the reverse are characteristic of early 20th-century letterpress work. The subtle background pattern and aging marks suggest standard paper stock available to Hungarian municipalities during 1917.

No serial numbers, colored overprints, or signature variations are visible on this example. The note is dated June 15, 1917, and issued under the authority of the Leibicz mayor. The reverse seal contains a reference date of 1902, which likely indicates the seal design predates the 1917 voucher issue, possibly being a previously established municipal seal repurposed for this emergency currency. No other known varieties of this specific Pick-unlisted issue have been documented; this represents the primary (and possibly only recorded) variety of Leibicz's 1 korona 1917 utalvány.