50 Pfennig Doebeln notgeld

This notgeld is from Doebeln and has the value of 50 Pfennig. It is the last design in a series that tells the legend of Knight Staupitz or the faithful lady. Staupitz seized castle Kriebstein, which was then under siege from the Elector at the request of the expelled lord of the castle. Staupitz realises his forces are outnumbered and his wife asks for mercy. The Elector says that she can leave carrying her most beloved treasures, expecting her to take clothes and jewellery, and is surprised when she then leaves the castle with her husband on her back. It shows a triptych: Left: There are lots of surprised knights. Centre: A woman in a yellow dress is carrying a knight on her back. Right: The knight placing one arm around the woman. The inscription in German reads: 'Staunen - Abmarsch mit dem liebsten Kleinod - Entsagung' and translates as: 'Surprise – Exit with the favourite treasure – Abstinence'. This is one of sixty notgeld or 'emergency money' banknotes in the reference collection of packaging material which belonged to the designer Charles Hasler. Notgeld were produced by German towns, villages and municipalities from the end of the First World War until the mid 1920s, when the state bank (the Reichsbank), struggled with wartime metal shortages and post- war hyperinflation. The highly decorative notes soon became collectors items - and still remain to this day. They are double-sided and printed with their monetary value, information about the village, town or province of issue and some colourful illustration.