Emergency money - A Introducion 01

From the beginning of the first world war, a shortage of metals forced a lot of countries to redraw their coins out of circulation. Silver coins were too valuable but also other metals were needed for war industry.

To cope with the demand of small denominations, lots of cities started to issue paper notes to replace the needed coins - some coins were issued in zinc or other cheap metals, and even other material was used, linen, silk or velvet, porcelain, leather, ... you name it.
This happened in many countries, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria ...

This 'emergency money' was roughly issued beween the beginning of the first World War, till the beginning of the second World War.

The first issues, in Belgium, France, ... were issued by different authorities, cities, non-profit organisations, employment offices, social organisations, ... in order to supply funds for the people suffering from the economical situation during the first world war.
This means that the issued notes were not only as a replacement for real 'money', sometimes they were also coupons that could be exchanged for grain, bread, meat, fish, ...
In this vieuw, we can add a whole category or chinese food coupons to this already elaborate theme.
And China is/was not the only country issuing food coupons.

Many of later notes (especially in Germany) became very fashionable and were issued for reasons beyond the need of real 'money'. They can be considered in a way as cinderellas.
These notes are known as 'Serien Scheine" - some special series, issued by a number of cities are know as "Reutergeld".

Later issues (for example in the 90's of previous century) were issued mainly to fight inflation in areas that suffered from war, like Bosnia Hezegovina. Here we find mostly paper notes.

In order not to make this introduction too complicated, I will leave it here.
There are thousands and thousands of different notes and coins.
Hopefully i'll find a way to make it understandable for you all....

(contributions are welcome!)
to be continued...