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ALTONA 25, 50, 75 PFENNIG SERIES NOTES 1921

On this page you will find a set of small denomination German Series Notes (Serienscheine) printed and distributed by the City of Altona in 1921. This is an interesting series of notes bearing cartoon illustrations, some with short social and political themed messages, by the artist Berthold Clauss from Altona, a member of the Altonaer Künstlerverein (Altona Artist Association).

Notgeld der Stadt Altona 25 pf. (Emergency money for the city of Altona 25 pfennig): Depicted on the obverse is a man disciplining his dog / On the Reverse is the open gate over water with three towers which serves as the coat of arms for the city / de lud beder all'ns verstoht sind meistens nich in'n magistrat. se sitt an'n stammdisch fast U. wiss weil dat bedudend lichter is / Der Magistrat. Altona Elbe Dez. 12 1921 No. 112169 (Short poem in Platt (low German): The people who know everything better are usually not in the Magistrat. They sit at the table of regulars (ie. do armchair or bar politics), because that is significantly easier. Signed by the municipal authorities of Altona on the Elbe, December 23, 1921) / illustration signed Clauss

Notgeld der Stadt Altona 50 pf. (Emergency money for the city of Altona 50 pfennig): Depicted on the obverse is a man and wife arguing, possibly about the man drinking as he holds a bottle. Dogs are barking at the commotion / On the Reverse is the open gate over water with three towers, the coat of arms for the city, on either side of the denomination / Dieser Schein verliert 2 Wochen nach aufruf in den altonaer zeitungen seine gultigkeit / Der Magistrat. Altona Elbe Dez. 12 1921 No. 112002 (This note loses its value two weeks after call in Altonaer newpapers, Signed by the municipal authorities of Altona on the Elbe, December 23, 1921) / illustration signed Clauss

Notgeld der Stadt Altona 50 pf. (Emergency money for the city of Altona 50 pfennig): Depicted on the obverse is a man drinking and smoking with a dog under the table (Possibly the only note in history that portrays a dogs anus) / On the Reverse is the open gate over water with three towers which serves as the coat of arms for the city / Ob nationol, ob soziol. Ob volkspartei, ob democrot, datt is as borger ganz egol. Helpt kraftig vnsern magistrot / Der Magistrat. Altona Elbe Dez. 12 1921 No. 112254 (Short poem in Platt (low German): Whether nationalist, or socialist, whether people's party, or democrat, that does, as a citizen, not matter - help strongly/firmly our Magistrat (ie. city council). Signed by the municipal authorities of Altona on the Elbe, December 23, 1921) / illustration signed Clauss

Notgeld der Stadt Altona 75 pf. (Emergency money for the city of Altona 75 pfennig): Depicted on the obverse is an angry smoking man in a top hat holding what appears to be notgeld / On the Reverse is the open gate over water with three towers, the coat of arms for the city, on top of denomination / Dieser Schein verliert 2 Wochen nach aufruf in den altonaer zeitungen seine gultigkeit / Der Magistrat. Altona Elbe Dez. 12 1921 No. 112253 (This note loses its value two weeks after call, Signed by the municipal authorities of Altona on the Elbe, December 23, 1921) / illustration signed Clauss

Notgeld der Stadt Altona 75 pf. (Emergency money for the city of Altona 75 pfennig): Depicted on the obverse is an angry man in a top hat sitting in the grass with a bird on his foot, holding a flower which seems to be irritating his nose / On the Reverse is the open gate over water with three towers, the coat of arms for the city, on either side of the denomination / Dieser Schein verliert 2 Wochen nach aufruf in den altonaer zeitungen seine gultigkeit / Der Magistrat. Altona Elbe Dez. 12 1921 No. 112256 (This note loses its value two weeks after call in Altonaer newpapers), Signed by the municipal authorities of Altona on the Elbe, December 23, 1921) / illustration signed Clauss


Altona was originally a Danish town founded in 1535 by fisherman on the right bank of the Elbe river. By 1664, Altona had become an important harbor town and was was designated a city. Conflict with Prussia saw the cession of the Duchy of Holstein and by 1866 the Duchy of Holstein became part of the Prussian empire. The city of Altona became a part of the new Prussian province of Schleswig-Holstein.

After World War I Altona was the location of major worker strikes, riots and violent early Nazi demonstrations. Altona remained a city until it became a part of the city of Hamburg under the Greater Hamburg act of 1937. Today it remains a borough of Hamburg.