1910 Germany 1000 Mark Reichsbanknote Green Seal-Red Seal 2-pc Circulated Set

Pre-World War I German Bank Note

Printed prior to World War I and used throughout the “War to End All Wars,” these German 1,000 Mark Reichsbanknotes have an interesting American connection. The special hemp paper used to create them features a ribbed security feature created in the United States and used for U.S. notes printed prior to 1877! The inventor (J.M Wilcox & Co. of Philadelphia) then sold the process to the Reichsbank of Germany. Another interesting bit of history about Germany’s 1910 series is that the red seal notes were printed through the end of the war, and the green seal notes were printed between 1918 and 1922!

Germany Goes Off the Gold Standard

The national currency of the German Empire from 1871 to 1914, the Mark was based on the gold standard with its value fixed at 0.358 grams of gold per 1 Mark. But WWI changed all that. Though Germany and its leader, the hot-tempered Kaiser Wilhelm II, seemed to be itching for a chance to fight with the rest of Europe, the country’s economy was not as ready. Germany needed to fund the war while keeping its gold reserves solvent. To pay for the war, and to protect its gold reserves, Germany abandoned the gold standard in August 1914 and these Reichsbanknotes could no longer be exchanged for gold.

How World War I Devastated Germany’s Currency

Things started spiraling downhill from there with new banks starting up seemingly overnight that could simply print money. This large quantity of money flooding the market led to inflation — inflation that got significantly worse in 1918 following Germany’s defeat in the war. How bad? Prior to World War I, the value of 1,000 Marks was equal to about $250. By 1923, the value of 1,000 Marks had dropped to less than 3 cents. In short, World War I and hyperinflation had wiped away the value of the Mark.

Here you can get a two-piece set containing one red seal note and one green seal note. Dates vary, and all notes come in Circulated condition. Add these significant pieces of World War I-era history to your collection today!