50 Pfennig 1922, Memel, Germany
| Manfred Mehl. Deutsche Serienscheine | Number: 881.1 |
| Years of issue: | 22.02.1922 |
| Edition: | -- |
| Signatures: | M.Petisne, Joseph Kraus, Bernhard Hennig, Dr. F.J. Meier |
| Serie: | Notgeld of East Prussia (today Lithuania) |
| Specimen of: | 22.02.1922 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 89 х 58 |
| Printer: | Gebr. Parcus A.-G. München |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Avers:
On the background is the coat of arms of Memel.
The origin of the municipal coat of arms (gold on red background) goes back to the second half of the XIII century. It was taken by the city Klaipėda and shows in the middle, the tower of the Memel castle (protected by walls), on both sides wooden marker buoys (as in Bommelsvitte and "Galgenbake" in Schmelz). The massive rowing boat refers to the location of the castle near the Kurischen Haff (Curonian Lagoon) and shows the ferry to the Kurischen Nehrung (Curonian Spit). The 4 stars refer to a time when boatmen had to navigate without a compass.
At the bottom are 4 signatures.
Denominations in numerals and in words are on right and left sides.
Revers:
The engraving on banknote is made from similar point of view at Curonian Spit, as on this postcard. The point of view is, probably, in Smiltyne.
The central, biggest Tower on the picture (in the middle) is Johanniskirche on Marktstrasse, in Memel.
The St.Johannisgemeinde (Memel city) existed since 1258 and is next to the cathedral castle church of St. Mary and the Church of St. Nicholas country one of the oldest churches of Memel.
The St. John's Church was until 1858 the Church of the Germans who lived in the city of Memel and in their Umlande (suburbs), but since 1858 it has been responsible without language mapping for all who lived in the city of Memel.
The church was badly damaged in 1944/45 and totally destroyed by the Soviets.
The Tower on the left side is the Catholic church on Töpferstrasse, in Memel.
In the years 1863-1865 a stone church was built on the site of a wooden chapel on the plans of Baurat Meyer in the Gothic style as a three-aisled vaulted hall church in Töpferstrasse. The new tower had a height of around 50 meters.
The church was badly damaged in 1944/45 and totally destroyed by the Soviets.
The Tower on the right side is Reformist church on Friedrich-Wilhelm Strasse, in Memel.
The first foundation stone of the church on this site was built in 1681. While in Memel were many Englishmen, Scots, Dutch and Swiss reformers, who in the service of Sweden (which then belonged to the Memel). For them, and was designed this church. She survived a lot in its history.
Was completely renovated in 1974. Then there was virtually destroyed by fire in 1854. And was again restored to its place.
The church was badly damaged in 1944/45 and totally destroyed by the Soviets.
Around it the flower plexus.
Denominations in numerals are on lower right and left corners.
Comments:
Klaipėda (former German name: Memel) is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Danė River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County.
The city has a complex recorded history, partially due to the combined regional importance of the Port of Klaipėda, a usually ice-free port on the Baltic Sea, and the Akmena - Danė River. It has been controlled by the Teutonic Knights, the Duchy of Prussia, the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire, the Entente States immediately after World War I, Lithuania as a result of the 1923 Klaipėda Revolt, and the Third Reich following the 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania. The city was incorporated into Lithuania during its time as a Soviet Socialist Republic and has remained within Lithuania following its re-establishment as an independent state.
Notgeld (German for "emergency money" or "necessity money") refers to money issued by an institution in a time of economic or political crisis. The issuing institution is usually one without official sanction from the central government. This occurs usually when sufficient state-produced money is not available from the central bank. Most notably, notgeld generally refers to money produced in Germany and Austria during World War I and the Interbellum. Issuing institutions could be a town's savings banks, municipality and private or state-owned firms.
Notgeld was mainly issued in the form of (paper) banknotes. Sometimes other forms were used, as well: coins, leather, silk, linen, postage stamps, aluminium foil, coal, and porcelain; there are also reports of elemental sulfur being used, as well as all sorts of re-used paper and carton material (e.g. playing cards). These pieces made from playing cards are extremely rare and are known as Spielkarten, the German word for "playing card".
Notgeld was a mutually-accepted means of payment in a particular region or locality, but notes could travel widely. Notgeld is different from occupation money that is issued by an occupying army during a war.
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