Germany, Westphalia 50 Millionen Mark Notgeld 1923 / MS64 (No reserve price)

1923 German Weimar Republic Westphalia Province Notgeld 50mm 50 Millionen Mark Gilt Bronze

Highlights:
1. NGC MS64 collector's grade with high score, featuring richly lustrous gold plating and intense natural reflective lustre. The three-line denomination is exceptionally rare among its peers.
2. A product of Germany's period of economic strain, its staggering 50 million mark denomination reflects the severity of inflation at the time, lending it particular historical significance.

Coin Story:
This coin bears witness to Germany's most severe hyperinflation crisis in 1923, when paper money depreciated so rapidly that local authorities like the Province of Westphalia had to issue high-denomination metal Notgeld to maintain circulation. The obverse often features the portrait of Prussian reformer Freiherr vom Stein, symbolizing calls for national unity and reform. It not only reflects the social turmoil of economic collapse but also embodies the transitional period from empire to republic in Germany, holding significant meaning for understanding the economic plight of the Weimar Republic and the historical context leading up to World War II. It serves as a microcosm of the hyperinflation era, reminding us of the fragility of monetary policy.

According to reliable records, the total mintage of this coin is approximately 199,657 pieces, primarily produced in 1923 for short-term circulation. Due to the rapid inflation, such Notgeld was quickly replaced by even higher denominations, thus limiting the production scale.

For collectors focused on German Notgeld or hyperinflation coins, it's an essential that can form part of a series collection with other high-denomination Notgeld. With growing interest in Weimar-era history, it has decent potential for appreciation.