50 pfennig

The withdrawal of bullion money carried out by the Reichsbank before the outbreak of the First World War, and the subsequent salvaging of all metal coins from circulation by the German population led to difficulties in making small payments. Difficulties in the retail trade were also felt in Szczecin. At the end of the First World War, wishing to eliminate the shortage of small coins the city council decided to introduce replacement metal money into circulation. The first issue was approved in 1917. These coins were struck in zinc, which was relatively easy to come by at the time. The 50-pfennig coin featured here belongs to the second issue of 1918, probably commissioned by C. Balmberger of Nuremberg. The coins were struck into iron, as zinc was beginning to become a strategic raw material. In order to avoid the accusation that the city was encroaching on the powers of the state, which had the exclusive right to issue money in Germany, the coin was given a rather rare square shape with rounded corners to stand out from official issues. The coin is known to have had nine varieties. This proves that demand for it in commerce was high and, as a result of its mass production, the stamps striking iron discs wore out at a rapid pace. On the reverse, below the information stating the denomination and that the holder was using replacement money, there was also a disclaimer that the coin was valid until the end of 1919. After this date, the money had to be redeemed by the issuer for official means of payment. It is interesting to note that, in addition to coins struck in iron, a variety struck in zinc, which was extremely rare and also coveted by collectors of the time, was also known, treated as a mint proof or a minting error. Mieszko Pawłowski