Łódź Ghetto mark (, ) was a surrogate currency that circulated in the Łódź Ghetto in 1940–1944 until the Ghetto was liquidated in August 1944. It was divided into 100 pfennig (). The notes had no value outside the Ghetto, and could not be exchanged into other currencies.
Special ghetto currency
When the ghetto was established, its residents were compelled to surrender their cash and valuable possessions in exchange for the ghetto mark. In contrast, other significant ghettos in Poland adopted a distinct approach, permitting the use of Polish zloty banknotes and small denominations of the German Reichsmark with unique stamps indicating their exclusive validity within the confines of the ghetto. This was an effective way to strip ghetto residents of their possessions while preventing them from fleeing. Outside of Poland, only the Terezin Ghetto is known to have used its own surrogate currency.
The earliest 10 pfennig coins' design strongly resembled the Reichspfennig of the Third Reich, and the occupation authorities demanded a new design. Further coins were designed by Morduch Glazer (1890–1950).
The initial design of the banknotes was proposed by Wincenty Brauner, a member of the pre-war art group Jung Jidysz, and featured a man breaking apart his chains; this design was rejected by German authorities. The final design was developed by Ignacy Gutman, head of the Ghetto's construction department: it featured a Menorah and a Star of David in the corner. Printing forms for coins were engraved by Pinkus Szwarc.
Order #70 of June 24, 1940, was issued by Chaim Rumkowski, and urged Ghetto residents to exchange their money into the Ghetto marks. The use of other money in the Ghetto was punishable by death.
Coins Coins were issued in the following denominations: 10 pfennig, 5, 10 and 20 mark.
+Łódź Ghetto coinsYearNominalImageMetalDiameterWeightCirculationEdge# inParchimowicz catalogNote194210 pfennigAL-Mg19,10,76100 000smooth1321100 000smooth19435 markAL22,51,5732 000 00014aincludes 14bAL-Mg22,71,0332 000 00014b includes 14a10 markAL28,32,6100 00015athickness 1.6–1.7 mmincludes 15b and 15c3,4100 00015bthickness 2.1–2.2 mmincludes 15a and 15cAL-Mg100 00015cthickness 2.1–2.2 mmincludes 15a and 15b20 markAL33,456,9860016
Banknotes
Notes were issued in the following denominations: 50 pfennig, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mark.
+Łódź Ghetto banknotesEmission dateSeriesNominalObverseReverse# in catalogof Parchimowicz/BorkowskiMay 15, 194050 pfennig1561 mark157A2 mark1585 mark15910 mark16020 mark16150 mark162
References
External links A brief history of the ghetto notes and further links