Danzig gulden

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The gulden, divided into 100 Pfennig, was the currency of the Free City of Danzig from 1923 to 1939.

History

From 1914 to 1923, Danzig used the German Papiermark and issued several local 'emergency notes'. Inflation during 1922–23 averaged roughly 2,440% per month.Template:Sfn In July 1923 it was announced that a new and independent currency (the gulden) was being established with the approval of the League of Nations finance committee to replace the German mark.[1] The gulden was introduced at a value of 25 gulden = 1 pound sterling, or 9.6d sterling per gulden.[1]Template:Sfn

Incorporation into Nazi Germany

Danzig, separated from Germany after World War I, was annexed by Nazi Germany on 1 September 1939, the day the invasion of Poland had begun[2] On the same day reichsmark coins and notes were declared legal tender alongside the Danzig gulden, with 1 gulden being equal to 70 reichspfennig (0.70 reichsmark).[3] This was a favourable exchange rate for inhabitants of Danzig, since the actual exchange rate was around 47 reichspfennig per gulden. To prevent abuse on 7 September the import of gulden coins and notes into the territory of the former free city was prohibited.[4] Bank assets were however converted at the market rate of 47 reichspfennig per gulden.[5]

With effect on 7 September 1939, coins of 1 and 2 pfennige became legal tender throughout Nazi Germany as 1 and 2 reichspfennige, and would remain in circulation until November 1940. On 30 September the reichsmark became the sole currency on the territory of the former free city. Notes and coins of 5 and 10 gulden were withdrawn that day and could be exchanged for reichsmarks until 15 October. Coins of 5 and 10 pfennig and Template:1/2 and 1 gulden remained in circulation until 25 June 1940 and were redeemed until 25 July.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Coins

The first series of coins was issued in 1923, followed by a second in 1932. Coins were issued in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 pfennige and Template:1/2, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 gulden.

The 25-gulden coins were minted in gold. Produced in very small numbers in 1923 (1,000) and 1930 (4,000), the latter date's issue was only released as a few presentation pieces. As part of the 1923 series are 200 proof coins and, while available to collectors, are very expensive.[6] The 1930 issue was essentially unobtainable until a large number appeared in the 1990s, apparently released from a Russian treasury where they had been stored since their capture at the end of World War II.[7]

First series (1923)[8]
Image Value Technical parameters Description Date of
Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse quantity minted minting issue withdrawal lapse
File:1fenig gdansk.jpg 1 pfennig 17 mm 1.67 g 95% Cu,
4% Sn,
1% Zn
Plain Value,
country name "Danzig"
Year,
Danzig coat of arms
11,500,000 1923–1937 18 December 1923[9] 1 November 1940[10] 30 November 1940[10]
File:2fenigi gdansk.jpg 2 pfennige 19.5 mm 2.5 g 3,250,000 1923–1937
File:5fenigow gdansk.jpg 5 pfennige 17.5 mm 2.0 g 75% Cu,
25% Ni
Plain Value,
country name "Danzig"
Year,
Danzig coat of arms
4,000,000 1923, 1928 18 December 1923[9] 1 October 1932[9] ?
File:10fenigow gdansk.jpg 10 pfennige 21.5 mm 4.0 g Value,
country name "Freie Stadt Danzig"
5,000,000 1923
File:Pol guldena gdansk.jpg Template:1/2 gulden 19.5 mm 2.5 g 75% Ag,
25% Cu
1/2, 1 Reeded. 2,5 Plain[11] Value,
country name "Freie Stadt Danzig",
coat of arms
cog 1,400,000 1923, 1927 1 April 1932[9]
1 gulden 23.5 mm 5.0 g Value,
country name "Freie Stadt Danzig",
cog
Coat of arms held by two lions 3,500,500 1923
File:2guldeny gdansk.jpg 2 gulden 26.5 mm 10.0 g 1,250,000
File:5guldenow gdansk.jpg 5 gulden 35.0 mm 25.0 g Value,
country name "Freie Stadt Danzig",
St. Mary's Church
860,500 1923, 1927
Template:Standard coin table notice

Banknotes

The first Danzig gulden banknotes were issued by the Danzig Central Finance Department and dated 22 October 1923 with a second issue dated 1 November 1923.Template:Sfn Denominations for both series included 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 50-pfennige notes,Template:Sfn as well as 1, 2, and 5 gulden.Template:Sfn In addition, the first issue contained 10 and 25-gulden notes,Template:Sfn and the second issue contained 50 and 100-gulden notes.Template:Sfn The Bank of Danzig was capitalized with £300,000 on 5 February 1924 and officially opened on 17 March 1924.Template:Sfn The Bank of Danzig issued four series of gulden (1924, 1928–30, 1931–32, and 1937–38) with an initial issue date of 10 February 1924.Template:Sfn

Banknotes of Danzig
Issued by Issue Value Image Comments
Danzig Central Finance Department 1923 first series 1 pfennig Template:Css Image Crop
2 pfennige Template:Css Image Crop
5 pfennige Template:Css Image Crop
10 pfennige Template:Css Image Crop
25 pfennige
50 pfennige Template:Css Image Crop
1 gulden
2 gulden
5 gulden
10 gulden
25 gulden
1923 second series 1 pfennig
2 pfennige
5 pfennige Template:Css Image Crop
10 pfennige
25 pfennige Template:Css Image Crop
50 pfennige
1 gulden
2 gulden
5 gulden
50 gulden
100 gulden
Bank of Danzig 1924 10 gulden
25 gulden
100 gulden
500 gulden Template:Css Image Crop Zeughaus (arsenal)
1,000 gulden Template:Css Image Crop City Hall
1928–30 10 gulden Template:Css Image Crop Artus Court
25 gulden Template:Css Image Crop St. Mary's Church
1931–32 20 gulden Template:Css Image Crop Stockturm (local tower) part of Golden Gate (Gdańsk)
Neptune
25 gulden Template:Css Image Crop St. Mary's Church
100 gulden Template:Css Image Crop Motława River dock scene
1937–38 20 gulden Template:Css Image Crop Artus Court
50 gulden Template:Css Image Crop Vorlaubenhaus

References

Notes

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Sources

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  6. Statue of Neptune basis of design on Danzig gold 25-gulden coins issued between two world wars
  7. A huge portion of Hitler's gold was already taken in 1945
  8. Schön G. and Schön G.: Welt Münzkatalog, 20. & 21. Jahrhundert, 1900–2010, München 2010, Battenberg Verlag. Template:ISBN
  9. a b c d Kamiński Cz.: Ilustrowany katalog monet polskich 1916–1991, Warsaw 1992, KAW. Template:ISBN
  10. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. Coins from the City of Danzig