Reichskassenscheine 1874-1914

The Reichskassenscheine(Imperial treasury notes) were paper money issued by the Reichsschuldenverwaltung (treasury of the German empire). The bills were not legal tender and therefore had not to be accepted by private persons. However, all public institutions had to accept them at face value. The Reichshauptkasse in Berlin was also obliged to exchange the notes into Gold coins.

Until 1906 the Reichsbank was only allowed to issue banknotes of a value of 100 Mark or more. So the Reichskassenscheine were issued as 5, 20 and 50 Mark bills. After 1906 the Reichsbank issued also 20 and 50 Mark banknotes. Reichskassenscheine were now issued only in 5 and 10 Mark denominations.

Initially the issue of Reichskassenscheine was limited to 120 million Mark. When the bills were introduced in 1874 the circulation was split based on the population figures of the 22 federal states of the German Empire. The circulation bills of the local currencies in the states (Taler, Gulden, etc.) were to be replaced by the new Mark banknotes. The amount of banknotes of those old currencies, however, made it necessary to increase the amount of Mark bills to 175 million Mark. By 1890, though, the surplus of bills had been reduced again to the limit.

Due to the financing needs of the German armament drive, the amount of Reichskassenscheine allowed was doubled in 1913. During World War 1 this limit was raised again to 360 million Mark in 1915.

The last two issues of Reichskassenscheine (5 Mark dated 1904 and 10 Mark dated 1906) were in use beyond World War 1. Due to the raising inflation in Germany they practically lost their value completely in May 1923. The last Reichskassenscheine became officially invalid on 6 July 1925.

5 Mark 1874
This Reichskassenschein was issued by Reichsschuldenverwaltung Berlin. It is dated 11 July 1874. (P# 1 / Ro 1)

20 Mark 1874
This Reichskassenschein was issued by Reichsschuldenverwaltung Berlin. It is dated 11 July 1874. (P# 2 / Ro 2)

50 Mark 1874
This Reichskassenschein was issued by Reichsschuldenverwaltung Berlin. It is dated 11 July 1874. (P# 3 / Ro 3)

5 Mark 1882
This Reichskassenschein was issued by Reichsschuldenverwaltung Berlin. It is dated 10 January 1882. (P# 4 / Ro 6)

20 Mark 1882
This Reichskassenschein was issued by Reichsschuldenverwaltung Berlin. It is dated 10 January 1882. (P# 5 / Ro 7)

50 Mark 1882
This Reichskassenschein was issued by Reichsschuldenverwaltung Berlin. It is dated 10 January 1882. (P# 6 / Ro 8)

50 Mark 1899
This Reichskassenschein was issued by Reichsschuldenverwaltung Berlin. It is dated 5 January 1899. (P# 7 / Ro 19)

5 Mark 1904
This note was issued by Reichsschuldenverwaltung Berlin. It is dated 31 October 1904. (P# 8 / Ro 22)

10 Mark 1906
This note was issued by Reichsschuldenverwaltung Berlin. It is dated 6 October 1906. (P# 9 / Ro 27)