State: Germany, Weimar Republic
Issuer: Altona (town)
Location of issue: Altona (city), Deutsches Reich, preußische Provinz Schleswig-Holstein
Date of issue: 8.10.1922 AD., (original 500 Mark issue), no new date on this overprint
Value: 500.000 Mark / 500000 Mark
Size: 142 x 106 mm
Material: paper
Watermark: Stern-Sechseckmuster
Serial : -
Serial no. : 246550
Signatures: (4)
Printer: H. Becker, Altona-Ottensen
Obv.: / / / …. , in background, blue-green: Altona city arms. - Im Hintergrund, blaugrün: Altonaer Stadtwappen.
Rev.: / / / …. , Red on blue: Altona city coat of arms, ship sailing in front of the open city gate. - Rot auf blau: Altonaer Stadtwappen, vor geöffnetem Stadttor segelndes Schiff.
References: Keller 79a ; Tieste 15.01 .
Altona is the westernmost urban borough (Bezirk) of the German city state of Hamburg, on the right bank of the Elbe river. From 1640 to 1864 Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy. Altona was an independent city until 1937.
Founded in 1535 as a village of fishermen in then Holstein-Pinneberg, in 1664 Altona, since 1640 a part of Holstein-Glückstadt, received city rights from Danish King Frederik III, then ruling in personal union as duke of Holstein. Until 1864, Altona was one of the Danish monarchy's most important harbour towns.
The wars between Denmark and the German Confederation, such as the First Schleswig War (1848–1851) and the Second War of Schleswig (February 1864 – October 1864) followed by the Gastein Convention (1864), led to Denmark's cession of the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg to Prussian and Austrian administration, respectively. With all of Schleswig-Holstein Altona became part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1867.
More on https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bezirk_Altona