1 kopeek
About This Note
This is a 1 kopeck emergency bond issued by the Magistrate of Częstochowa in 1916, an uncommon Polish municipal currency from World War I. The note exhibits excellent condition with clear ornate printing, visible red ink serial number 045577, and handwritten signatures authenticating the issue. The piece represents an interesting example of local wartime monetary substitutes, with both front and back displaying well-preserved typography and the characteristic brown/tan coloration of period bond paper.
Uncommon. While municipal emergency bonds from WWI Poland exist in various quantities, the Magistrat M. Czestochowy 1 kopeck is not a widely-circulated type encountered in typical collections. The 'P-unlisted' catalog designation suggests it falls outside major standard references, indicating limited documentation and probably modest original print runs. The AU condition grade is noteworthy as many such bonds experienced heavy circulation or poor storage. However, without evidence of extreme scarcity or major collector demand, it should be classified as uncommon rather than rare.
This bond was issued during World War I by the municipal authority of Częstochowa, a major Polish industrial city, as a response to currency shortages affecting civilian populations under German occupation. The front warns against counterfeiting according to state laws, reflecting the serious legal framework surrounding these emergency issues. The reverse specifies redemption in state currency within three months of a peace treaty signing, demonstrating the temporary nature of such municipal instruments and the expectation that normalcy would follow the war's conclusion.
The note employs a classical bond-style layout with ornate decorative corner flourishes and scrollwork frames typical of early 20th-century municipal securities. The front features the denomination '1' in prominent positions on both left and right margins, with a central text block containing legal language regarding counterfeiting penalties. A red-ink serial number provides security differentiation. The back contains a larger numeral '1' on the left side with an associated red/pink colored band, while the right side holds the redemption terms and issuing authority statement. Handwritten signatures and administrative markings appear in the lower right, indicating official authorization by municipal officers. No portraits or specific landmarks are depicted; the design emphasizes legal text and numerical denomination rather than pictorial elements.
FRONT: 'JEDNA KOPIEJKA' (One Kopeck) - the denomination. 'FALSOWANIE BONÓW ROZPOWSZECHNIA NIE FAŁSZYWYCH KARANE BĘDZIE WEDŁUG PRAW PAŃSTWOWYCH' (Counterfeiting of bonds, distribution of false ones will be punished according to state laws) - anti-counterfeiting warning. Serial number '№045577' in red ink. Date '1916'. BACK: 'MAGISTRAT M. CZĘSTOCHOWY' (Magistrate of Częstochowa) - issuing authority. 'BON NINIEJSZY NA JEDNĄ KOPIEJKĘ WYDANY PRZEZ MAGISTRAT CZĘSTOCHOWY' (This bond for one kopeck issued by the Magistrate of Częstochowa). 'BĘDZIE WYMIENIONY OKAZICIELOWI NA MONETĘ PAŃSTWOWĄ W CIĄGU TRZECH MIESIĘCY PO PODPISANIU TRAKTATU POKOJOWEGO' (Will be exchanged to the bearer for state monetary currency within three months after signing the peace treaty). Denomination '1 KOP.' Handwritten signatures and administrative notations present.
The note was produced using letterpress printing for the primary text and ornamental elements, evidenced by the crisp, well-defined typography and borders visible throughout both sides. The red-ink serial number and colored band were applied as separate printing passes, a standard security measure for period bond issues. The handwritten signatures and annotations were added post-printing by authorized officials, a common practice for emergency municipal currency to ensure authenticity and individual accountability. The overall execution reflects competent municipal printing capabilities rather than centralized state security printer standards.
This specific example is serial number 045577 from 1916. Handwritten signatures appear in the lower right of the reverse, suggesting this may represent a distinct signature variety. The denomination, issuer, and year appear consistent with the primary issue, but variations may exist in signature combinations or minor printing details across the series. The red-ink serial number format appears standard for the issue type. Without access to comprehensive catalogs of Czestochowa municipal bonds, additional varieties may exist but cannot be definitively identified from this specimen alone.
