50 pfennig

During the First World War, there was a shortage of small coins in the German money market. The state mints were not able to supply the market with sufficient coinage. A deficiency of raw materials and limited technical capabilities stood in the way. The growing gap in monetary circulation was resolved by the local authorities who decided to close the gap by issuing their own metal currency. Although German law provided for some exceptions, the minting business was a state monopoly and activities carried out by local governments were in principle illegal. For this reason, efforts were made to give this coinage a neutral character, emphasising its temporariness, regional character and difference from the official currency. The specific shape given to the replacement coins and their own name were also intended to serve this purpose. Sławno took advantage of those options, issuing its own 50 pfennig coins. The contract was carried out by Münzpräge-& Graviranstalt C. Blamberger of Nuremberg. Struck in iron, the coins were given an octagonal shape, representing a standard for money ordered by the municipal authorities. The obverse bears the town's coat of arms in a pearl ring and a note on the rim stating that the responsibility for the issue lies with the magistrate of Sławno. The reverse, alongside the pearl-bordered denomination, states that the object is a small replacement coin (Kleingeldersatzmarke). Soon after their entry into circulation metal replacement coins became a sought-after collector's item. Furthermore, it is suspected that a significant proportion of these coins minted in very low quantities had a purely commercial or even speculative character. Mieszko Pawłowski