Lot 2523

Description

Germany-Poland, Litzmannstadt Ghetto, fifty pfennig, one mark (2), five marks, twenty marks, Quittungen (Receipt notes), one of the one mark notes an un-numbered specimen, the five mark with number and specimen circular hole, (Campbell No. 4201b, 4202b, 4204[2], 4206 [1]). Very fine - nearly uncirculated, scarce. (5)

The Nazi leadership declared that it was illegal for residents of the ghetto to possess hard currency. Because of this edict, the residents were forced to exchange their German and Polish currency for quittungen (receipts) that were to function as currency. The notes were printed by the Manitius Printing house. The text on the face translated reads 'Receipt for (denomination), The Chief Elder of the Jews in Litzmannstadt, M. Rumkowski, Litzmannstadt, May 15, 1940,' The back states the denomination and gives a warning against counterfeiting.