Bank.notes

Collection Germany #226

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20 Reichsmark

Germany 1929 1900_1945 VF P-R-181a AI extracted ✦ AI 93%
Front · IMG_6501.jpeg cropped
Back · IMG_6502.jpeg cropped
Pair check: ! check failed checked 2026-05-09T09:55:53.557911
Identity

Where & when

Country Germany
Currency Reichsmark
Denomination 20
Series name Reichsbanknote Series 1929
Series year 1929
Issue year 1929
Era 1900_1945
Legal status demonetized
Predecessor currency Rentenmark
Successor currency Deutsche Mark
Subjects & design

What's on the note

Front portrait
Reverse subject Ornamental design with allegorical figures and flora
Watermark Large denomination numeral 20 in central oval field
Color palette #8b7355,#5a4a3a,#d4c4a8
Themes agriculture,industry
Language / script Latin (Fraktur)

Front: 20 Reichsmark banknote issued under the Weimar Republic. The front bears elaborate Gothic text reading 'Zwanzig Reichsmark' with legal text referencing the banking law of 30 August 1924 and the penal law of 2 January 1929. The design features ornate guilloche patterns typical of Reichsbank notes of this period, with denomination numerals in the corners. These notes were issued during the stabilization period following the hyperinflation crisis of 1923, when the Reichsmark replaced the Rentenmark at par.

Back: Ornamental reverse design featuring allegorical figures representing German labor and agriculture. On the left, a male figure with tools symbolizes industry; on the right, a female figure with agricultural produce represents farming. The central oval watermark area is surrounded by intricate guilloche work and floral motifs, reflecting the nationalist artistic style of the Weimar period. The denomination '20' appears in all four corners.

Production

How it was made

Issuer Reichsbank
Issuer (native) Reichsbank
Printer Reichsdruckerei
Engraver
Material paper
Dimensions (mm) 148x105

Security features: microprint,intaglio

Geography

Germany in Europe

Germany in Europe. Other countries on the same continent shown in muted grey.

The story

Background & history

This note belongs to the Reichsbanknote series introduced in 1924 following Germany's devastating hyperinflation. The Reichsmark was established at a rate of 1 Reichsmark = 1 trillion Papiermark. The 1929 series continued through the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich period, and remained in circulation until currency reform in 1948 when it was replaced by the Deutsche Mark in West Germany and the Mark der DDR in East Germany. The 'R' prefix on the serial number indicates this is a replacement note, used to substitute notes destroyed during production.

Catalogue

Collector references

Pick # R-181a
Krause ID
Rarity tier common
Series range 1929–1945
Provenance

How it came to me

Acquired date
Acquired from
Acquired price
Currency
Condition
Grade VF
Serial number R·14936940
Serial prefix R
Replacement note Yes (R)

Note shows moderate circulation with visible folds and light soiling consistent with VF grade. Paper remains intact with no tears.

Valuation

What it's worth now

$8–$15
Type default range $8–$15
Valuation history (1)
datelowhighcurrencysourcenote
2026-05-08 17:21:59 8.0 15.0 USD ai from claude-sonnet-4-5
Technical

History & extractions

AI extractions (1)
anthropic · claude-sonnet-4-5 2026-05-08 17:21:59
status: ok · step 1 · $0.0364 · 6293↓ + 1171↑ tokens
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