Danzig gulden

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Danzig gulden
DAN-63-Bank von Danzig-20 Gulden (1937) (cropped).jpg 10fenigow gdansk1932.jpg
20 gulden (1937)10 pfennig coin
Unit
PluralGulden
Denominations
Subunit
1100Pfennig
Plural
PfennigPfennig
Banknotes10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000 Gulden
Coins1, 2, 5, 10 Pfennig
12, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 Gulden
Demographics
User(s) Free City of Danzig
Issuance
Central bank Bank of Danzig
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

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

Contents

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. [1] 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. [2] The gulden was introduced at a value of 25 gulden = 1 pound sterling, or 9.6d sterling per gulden. [2] [3]

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 [4] 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). [5] 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. [6] Bank assets were however converted at the market rate of 47 reichspfennig per gulden. [7]

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 Notes and coins of 5 and 10 gulden were withdrawn that day and could be exchanged for reichsmarks until 15 October.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 12 and 1 gulden remained in circulation until 25 June 1940 and were redeemed until 25 July.[ citation needed ]

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 12, 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. [8] 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. [9]

First series (1923) [10]
ImageValueTechnical parametersDescriptionDate of
DiameterMassCompositionEdgeObverseReversequantity mintedmintingissuewithdrawallapse
1fenig gdansk.jpg 1 pfennig17 mm1.67 g95% Cu,
4% Sn,
1% Zn
PlainValue,
country name "Danzig"
Year,
Danzig coat of arms
11,500,0001923–193718 December 1923 [11] 1 November 1940 [12] 30 November 1940 [12]
2fenigi gdansk.jpg 2 pfennige19.5 mm2.5 g3,250,0001923–1937
5fenigow gdansk.jpg 5 pfennige17.5 mm2.0 g75% Cu,
25% Ni
PlainValue,
country name "Danzig"
Year,
Danzig coat of arms
4,000,0001923, 192818 December 1923 [11] 1 October 1932 [11] ?
10fenigow gdansk.jpg 10 pfennige21.5 mm4.0 gValue,
country name "Freie Stadt Danzig"
5,000,0001923
Pol guldena gdansk.jpg 12 gulden19.5 mm2.5 g75% Ag,
25% Cu
 ?Value,
country name "Freie Stadt Danzig",
coat of arms
cog 1,400,0001923, 19271 April 1932 [11]
1 gulden23.5 mm5.0 gValue,
country name "Freie Stadt Danzig",
cog
Coat of arms held by two lions 3,500,5001923
2guldeny gdansk.jpg 2 gulden26.5 mm10.0 g1,250,000
5guldenow gdansk.jpg 5 gulden35.0 mm25.0 gValue,
country name "Freie Stadt Danzig",
St. Mary's Church
860,5001923, 1927
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

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. [13] Denominations for both series included 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 50-pfennige notes, [13] as well as 1, 2, and 5 gulden. [13] In addition, the first issue contained 10 and 25-gulden notes, [14] and the second issue contained 50 and 100-gulden notes. [15] The Bank of Danzig was capitalized with £300,000 on 5 February 1924 and officially opened on 17 March 1924. [3] 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. [15]

Banknotes of Danzig
Issued byIssueValueImageComments
Danzig Central Finance Department1923 first series1 pfennig
DAN-32-Danzig Central Finance-1 Pfennige (1923).jpg
2 pfennige
DAN-33-Danzig Central Finance-2 Pfennige (1923).jpg
5 pfennige
DAN-34-Danzig Central Finance-5 Pfennige (1923) 2.jpg
10 pfennige
DAN-35-Danzig Central Finance-10 Pfennige (1923) 2.jpg
25 pfennige
50 pfennige
DAN-37-Danzig Central Finance-50 Pfennige (1923) 2.jpg
1 gulden
2 gulden
5 gulden
10 gulden
25 gulden
1923 second series1 pfennig
2 pfennige
5 pfennige
DAN-44-Danzig Central Finance-5 Pfennige (1923).jpg
10 pfennige
25 pfennige
DAN-46-Danzig Central Finance-25 Pfennige (1923).jpg
50 pfennige
1 gulden
2 gulden
5 gulden
50 gulden
100 gulden
Bank of Danzig192410 gulden
25 gulden
100 gulden
500 gulden
DAN-56-Bank von Danzig-500 Gulden (1924).jpg
Zeughaus (arsenal)
1,000 gulden
DAN-57-Bank von Danzig-1,000 Gulden (1924).jpg
City Hall
1928–3010 gulden
DAN-58-Bank von Danzig-10 Gulden (1930).jpg
Artus Court
25 gulden
DAN-59-Bank von Danzig-25 Gulden (1928).jpg
St. Mary's Church
1931–3220 gulden
DAN-60-Bank von Danzig-20 Gulden (1932).jpg
Stockturm (local tower) part of Golden Gate (Gdańsk)
Neptune
25 gulden
DAN-61-Bank von Danzig-25 Gulden (1931).jpg
St. Mary's Church
100 gulden
DAN-62-Bank von Danzig-100 Gulden (1931, specimen).jpg
Motława River dock scene
1937–3820 gulden
DAN-63-Bank von Danzig-20 Gulden (1937).jpg
Artus Court
50 gulden
DAN-65-Bank von Danzig-50 Gulden (1937).jpg
Vorlaubenhaus

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References

Notes

  1. McGuire 2013, p. 48.
  2. 1 2 "Danzig to Establish New Currency System". The New York Times. 20 July 1923. p. 3 via ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851–2010).
  3. 1 2 Mason 1946, p. 74.
  4. Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. "ÖNB-ALEX – Deutsches Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I 1867–1945". onb.ac.at.
  5. Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. "ÖNB-ALEX – Deutsches Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I 1867–1945". onb.ac.at.
  6. Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. "ÖNB-ALEX – Deutsches Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I 1867–1945". onb.ac.at.
  7. "Danziger Geld im 20. Jahrhundert". ostsee-urlaub-polen.de. Archived from the original on 2014-05-22.
  8. Statue of Neptune basis of design on Danzig gold 25-gulden coins issued between two world wars
  9. A huge portion of Hitler's gold was already taken in 1945
  10. Schön G. and Schön G.: Welt Münzkatalog, 20. & 21. Jahrhundert, 1900–2010, München 2010, Battenberg Verlag. ISBN   978-3-86646-036-2
  11. 1 2 3 4 Kamiński Cz.: Ilustrowany katalog monet polskich 1916–1991, Warsaw 1992, KAW. ISBN   83-03-00041-1
  12. 1 2 Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. "ÖNB-ALEX – Deutsches Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I 1867–1945". onb.ac.at.
  13. 1 2 3 Cuhaj 2010, pp. 430–31.
  14. Cuhaj 2010, p. 430.
  15. 1 2 Cuhaj 2010, p. 431.

Sources