1922 Germany 75 Pfennig Notgeld Berlin Dr. Carl Peters Colonial Remembrance PCGS 63 UNC

1922 Germany 75 Pfennig Notgeld Berlin Dr. Carl Peters Colonial Remembrance PCGS 63 UNC

Presented is a striking and historically provocative 75 Pfennig Notgeld from Berlin, dated 1922, issued in observance of German-Hanseatic Colonial Remembrance Day (Deutsch-Hanseatischer Kolonial-Gedenktag). Cataloged as G/M 88.6.3, L-83b, this notgeld was produced during the Weimar Republic period and printed without watermark on a green-backed paper, earning a grade of PCGS Choice Uncirculated 63.

This commemorative note reflects a specific ideological and historical moment in post-World War I Germany, when public sentiment toward the loss of overseas colonies still lingered after the Treaty of Versailles.

Design and Features:

Obverse (Vertical Format):
At the center is a stylized map of Africa, bordered by palm fronds and German text commemorating colonial territories such as Togo, Kamerun, Deutsch-Südwestafrika (German South West Africa), and Deutsch-Ostafrika (German East Africa), which had been part of the German Empire from 1884 to 1918. The note references colonial activities and commercial ventures lost after Germany's defeat in WWI.

The right panel carries the issuing text, including the event name and the cities Hamburg, Bremen, and Berlin, and marks the note as a Gutschein (voucher) tied to the colonial memorial event dated March 13, 1922. The denomination "75 Pfennig" is enclosed in a golden sunburst.

Reverse:
Features a bust of Dr. Carl Peters, a controversial colonial figure and founder of the German East Africa Company, who is here commemorated as a symbol of the former colonial era. Flanked by botanical elements representing tropical colonies, the portrait is captioned "Gedenkt unserer Kolonien" ("Remember our Colonies"), reinforcing the note's commemorative intent.

Historical Context:

This piece belongs to a unique subgenre of propaganda notgeld, issued not out of necessity but to promote remembrance or ideology. In this case, it aimed to stir patriotic and nostalgic sentiment for the now-lost German colonial empire, dissolved after WWI by Allied mandate. These notes were often distributed at commemorative exhibitions and rallies, making them a window into the interwar national psyche.

Due to their limited issuance, such notgeld varieties tied to Colonial Memorial Days are particularly sought after among specialists in German propaganda, notgeld history, and colonial studies.

Collector’s Value:

Graded Choice UNC 63 by PCGS, this piece is in exceptional condition with sharp imagery, vivid color, and historical significance. It offers a rare glimpse into Germany’s post-imperial identity crisis and the commemorative uses of notgeld beyond commerce. A visually dynamic and conversation-starting addition to any collection focused on Weimar politics, German colonial history, or thematic notgeld.