This Drei Millionen Mark Gutschein, or three million Mark voucher, was issued by Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron. Styled after a banknote, the verso of this company scrip includes the company logo and terms of the scrip. Paper features a watermark design.
Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron manufactured chemical products including fertilizers, mineral acids, aniline, and caustic soda. They were also a leading company in electro-chemistry producing chlor-alkali. From 1900 through 1915 they produced oxygen and phosphorus, becoming the first commercial producer of polyvinyl acetate, which they developed, along with polyvinyl chloride. They manufactured explosives during World War One.
This German company scrip is an example of the hyperinflation which occurred in Germany after World War One as a result of reparation costs. Due to the devaluation of the Mark, companies began issuing their own currency that employees could use within their company stores.
“Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron Drei Millionen Mark Gutschein.” Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Chemische Fabrik Griesheim Elektron, August 11, 1923. Robert J. Bauman collection. Science History Institute. Philadelphia. https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/g158bj14j.
Export citation (RIS)
?
This citation is automatically generated and may contain errors.