1920 AD., Germany, Weimar Republic, Reichsschuldenverwaltung, Berlin, 1 Mark, Pick 58. 532·577948 Reverse

State: Germany, Weimar Republic
Issuer: Reichsschuldenverwaltung
Location of issue: Berlin
Date of issue: 1.March 1920 AD.,
Value: 1 Mark
Dimensions: 90 x 60 mm
Material: paper
Watermark: Kreuzblüten / Vierpaß
Serial (number) : 532 (red) (other observed: 1-561 )
Serial no. : 577948
Signatures: Halle – Vieregge – Müller – Dickhut – Sprenger / Lothar – v.Drenkmann – Mücke – Moll – Schultz – Sipper
Printer: Reichsdruckerei, Berlin (Germany)
Obv.: 532·577948 / Darlehnskassenschein / Eine Mark / Berlin, den 1. März 1920 / Reichsschuldenverwaltung / 1/Mark – (signatures) – 1/ Mark / Wer Darlehnskassenscheine nachmacht … , two seals flanking, the left one printed red, the right a colourless relief.
Rev.: 1/Mark – Darlehnskassenschein - 1/Mark / 1 - 1 - 1 / Eine Mark , big value number in center rosette, cornucopiae with flowers and ornaments flanking.
References: Rosenberg 64 ; World Paper Money P-58 .

A substitute for lacking small change.

Since the German Reich financed the costs of warfare only to a lesser extent by tax increases and war bonds, but to a considerable extent by issuing paper money, there was already considerable inflation during the war years. Precious metal-containing mark coins disappeared in 1914 immediately from circulation.
In 1914, the State Loan Office began issuing paper money known as Darlehnskassenscheine (loan fund notes). These circulated alongside the issues of the Reichsbank. Most were 1- and 2-Mark notes but there were also 5-, 20-, 50- and 100-Mark notes.