Banknotes of the Reichsbank 1875-1914

Before 1906 the Reichsbank of Germany was only allowed to issue banknotes with denominations of 100 Mark or higher. Till that year it only issued bills of the denominations of 100 Mark and 1000 Mark.

Until the end of 1909 the banknotes of the Reichsbank were not legal tender. Private persons were not obliged to accept these bills (Legal tender were the coins). Only the Reichsbank and the Privatnotenbanken had to accept these banknotes. The Reichsbank also had to exchange the notes into silver or gold coins, when requested to do so.

During this period the banknotes were mainly used for payments and financial transfers between banks and firms. One has to keep in mind that 1000 Mark at the time was a lot of money - it was about the average yearly wage of worker at the end of the 19th century in Germany.

Form 1 January 1910 the banknotes for the Reichsbank became legal tender in Germany. Now they also had to be accepted by private persons, too.

Due to the fast industrial development of Germany and a reduction in the use of coins the banknotes become more important over time. And their circulation increased fast: form 685 million Mark in 1876 it tripled to 1,958 million Mark in 1913.

On 13 July 1914 the convertibility of the banknotes into gold was ended. The Great War already loomed around the corner.

Find out more about the history of the German Empire.

100 Mark 1876
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 1 January 1876. (P# 10 / Ro 4)

1,000 Mark 1876
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 1 January 1876. (P# 11 / Ro 5)

100 Mark 1883
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 3 September 1883. (P# 12 / Ro 9)

1,000 Mark 1884
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 2 January 1884. (P# 13 / Ro 10)

1000 Mark 1891
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 1 January 1891. (P# 14 / Ro 11)

100 Mark 1891
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 1 May 1891. (P# 15 / Ro 12)

100 Mark 1895
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 1 March 1895. (P# 16 / Ro 13)

1000 Mark 1895
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 1 March 1895. (P# 17 / Ro 14)

100 Mark 1896
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 10 April 1896. (P# 18 / Ro 15)

1000 Mark 1896
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 10 April 1896. (P# 19 / Ro 16)

100 Mark 1898
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 1 July 1898. (P# 20 / Ro 17)

1000 Mark 1898
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 1 July 1898. (P# 21 / Ro 18)

100 Mark 1903
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 17 April 1903. (P# 22 / Ro 20)

1000 Mark 1903
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 10 October 1903. (P# 23 / Ro 21)

100 Mark 1905
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 18 December 1905. (P# 24 / Ro 23)

20 Mark 1906
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 10 March 1906. (P# 25 / Ro 24)

50 Mark 1906
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 10 March 1906. (P# 26 / Ro 25)

1000 Mark 1906
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 26 July 1906. (P# 27 / Ro 26)

20 Mark 1907
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 8 June 1907. (P# 28 / Ro 28)

50 Mark 1907
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 8 June 1907. (P# 29 / Ro 29)

100 Mark 1907
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 8 June 1907. (P# 30 / Ro 30)

20 Mark 1908
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 7 February 1908. (P# 31 / Ro 31)

50 Mark 1908
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 7 February 1908. (P# 32 / Ro 32)

100 Mark 1908 - red seals
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 7 February 1908. (P# 33 / Ro 33)

100 Mark 1908 - green seals
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 7 February 1908. (P# 34 / Ro 34)

100 Mark 1908
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 7 February 1908. (P# 35 / Ro 35)

1000 Mark 1908
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 7 February 1908. (P# 36 / Ro 36)

20 Mark 1909
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 10 September 1909. (P# 37 / Ro 37)

100 Mark 1909
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 10 September 1909. (P# 38 / Ro 38)

1000 Mark 1909
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 10 September 1909. (P# 39 / Ro 39)

20 Mark 1910
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 21 April 1910. (P# 40 / Ro 40)

20 Mark 1910 (K series)
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 21 April 1910. (Ro 41)

50 Mark 1910
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 21 April 1910. (P# 41 / Ro 42)

100 Mark 1910 - red seals
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 21 April 1910. (P# 42 / Ro 43)

100 Mark 1910 - green seals
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 21 April 1910. (P# 43 / Ro 44)

1000 Mark 1910
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 21 April 1910. (P# 44 / Ro 45)

1000 Mark 1910
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 21 April 1910. (P# 45 / Ro 46)

20 Mark 1914
This note was issued by Reichsbankdirektorium Berlin. It is dated 19 February 1914. (P# 46 / Ro 47)