Province of Westphalia 1 Billion Mark 1923 emergency coin
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1923
This German emergency money piece, issued by the Province of Westphalia in 1923, is a notable specimen of the hyperinflation era. The coin is struck in copper-nickel and measures 60mm in diameter.
The obverse features a prancing horse, a traditional heraldic symbol of Westphalia, encircled by the denomination inscription '1 Billion Mark'. The reverse displays a portrait of the Prussian statesman Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom und zum Stein, with the surrounding text identifying him as 'Minister vom Stein 1757-1831'. The coin is accompanied by original ephemera, including a protective paper wrapper and a printed leaflet titled 'Aus dem Leben des Ministers vom Stein' (From the Life of Minister vom Stein), detailing his biographical timeline.
The set is presented in a period box. This piece serves as a physical record of the severe economic instability and monetary measures taken in Germany during the 1920s.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Diameter
- 60mm
- Material
- Copper-nickel
Technical characteristics
- Denomination
- 1 Billion Mark
Design
- Obverse
- Prancing horse framed by inscription '1 Billion Mark'
- Reverse
- Portrait of Minister vom Stein, with inscription 'Minister vom Stein 1757-1831'
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.