Łódź Ghetto mark

Lodz Ghetto mark (German: Mark, Polish: Marka getta łódzkiego) was a surrogate currency that circulated in the Lodz Ghetto in 1940—1944 until the Ghetto was liquidated in August 1944. It was divided into 100 pfennig (German: pfennig). The notes has no value outside the Ghetto, and could not be exchanged into other currency.

Special ghetto currency

When the ghetto was created, its inhabitants were forced to exchange their cash and valuables into the ghetto mark. Other large ghettos in Poland used a bit different approach: they were allowed to use banknotes of the Polish zloty and small denominations of the German Reichsmark with special stamps indicating that this currency can only be used in 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 use its own surrogate currency.

The design of early coins strongly resembled the Reichspfennig of the Third Reich, which annoyed the occupation authorities. 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 Runkowski, and urged Ghetto residents to exchange their money into the Ghetto marks. The use of other money in the Ghetto was punishable by death penalty.

Coins

• Coins were issued in the following denominations: 10 pfennig, 5, 10 and 20 mark.

Lodz Ghetto coins

Year	Nominal	Image	Metal	Diameter	Weight	Circulation	Edge	# in Parchimowicz catalog	Note
1942	10 pfennig		AL-Mg	19,1	0,76	100 000	smooth	13
				21		100 000			smooth
1943	5 mark		AL	22,5	1,57	32 000 000		14a	includes 14b
			AL-Mg	22,7	1,03	32 000 000		14b includes 14a
	10 mark		AL	28,3	2,6	100 000		15a	thickness 1.6-1.7 mm includes 15b and 15c
					3,4	100 000		15b	thickness 2.1—2.2 mm includes 15a and 15c
			AL-Mg			100 000		15c	thickness 2.1—2.2 mm includes 15a and 15b
	20 марок		AL	33,45	6,98	600		16

Banknotes

• Notes were issued in the following denominations: 50 pfennig, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mark.

Lodz Ghetto banknotes

Emission date	Series	Nominal	Obverse	Reverse	# in catalog of Parchimowicz/Borkowski	Notes
May 15, 1940		50 pfennig			156
		1 Марка			157
	A
		2 mark			158
		5 mark			159
		10 mark			160
		20 mark			161
		50 mark			162

See also

• Terezin Ghetto banknotes

Web links

• A brief history of the ghetto notes and further links
• Anna Augustowska (2011-04-17). "Monety z łódzkiego getta" (in Polish). Wirtualny Sztetl. Archived from the original on 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
• Jerzy Chałupski. "Monety łódzkiego getta" (in Polish). e-numizmatyka.pl. Retrieved 2014-11-13.