1949 Germany 10 Deutsche Mark Bank Deutscher Länder Note ABNC PCGS VF30 Rare Early FRG Issue

1949 Germany 10 Deutsche Mark Bank Deutscher Länder Note ABNC PCGS VF30 Rare Early FRG Issue

Featured here is a historically pivotal 10 Deutsche Mark banknote issued in 1949 by the Bank Deutscher Länder, the precursor to the Deutsche Bundesbank. Graded PCGS Very Fine 30, this note (Pick #16a / Ros. 258) bears serial number R9564778E and was printed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), though without imprint—a unique feature that marks it as part of Germany's critical postwar currency reform.

Issued just months after the Deutsche Mark replaced the beleaguered Reichsmark, this was one of the first paper currencies of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), helping to reestablish confidence in the monetary system and stabilize the economy after WWII.

Design and Features:

Obverse:

• Central allegorical figure of Germania, symbolizing justice and strength, stands between a male figure (representing labor and industry) and a female figure (representing agriculture and domestic production).

• Denomination 10 appears boldly at the corners and in elaborate medallions to the left and right of the central trio.

• The text "Bank Deutscher Länder" sits above the primary vignette, signaling this early transitional authority before the founding of the Bundesbank.

• Below the vignette, the inscription reads: "Zehn Deutsche Mark" (Ten Deutsche Marks), with “Serie 1949” below.

Reverse:

• Highly detailed geometric guilloche background with prominent "10" numerals.

• Printed location and date: "Frankfurt am Main, 22. August 1949".

• Dual signatures of board officials lend both historical and administrative authenticity.

• The phrase "Banknote Bank Deutscher Länder" reaffirms the issuing authority.

Historical Significance:

This note emerged during a defining moment in German monetary history—the 1948/1949 currency reform in the western zones of occupation. It was a cornerstone in the postwar economic recovery, replacing the hyperinflated Reichsmark and helping launch the Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle).

The use of ABNC printing techniques, notably without imprint, showcases the cooperation between U.S. institutions and the nascent German state during Allied oversight. These notes served as both medium of exchange and symbols of renewed sovereignty, forming the bedrock of West Germany’s postwar financial system.

Collector’s Value:

This PCGS VF30 certified note represents an important transitional issue with a rich geopolitical backstory. With its ABNC engraving quality, classical symbolism, and significance to postwar European reconstruction, this 10 Deutsche Mark note is a standout for collectors of modern German history, occupation-era currency, or early Bundesbank issues. An essential addition for those curating collections from turning points in global financial history.