Nazi Numismatics Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rentenmark

The Rentenmark introduced in November of 1923 literally translates into the phrase "security mark". As is the case with a lot of different currencies, there are 100 subunits, and in this particular instance, one one hundredth of a Rentenmark was called a Rentenpfennig. The Rentenmark replaced the Papiermark which had been in circulation since 1914, the onset of World War I.

Answer: 1924

The Rentenmark was only in circulation as the main legal tender during the short period of 1923 to 1924 after which it was officially succeeded by the Reichsmark, the symbol of the Nazi currency and economy. The Rentenmark could still be used up until as late as 1948, three years after the capitulation of the Third Reich.

The denominations ranged in varying increments from one Rentenpfennig coins to 1000 Rentenmark notes. Incidentally, 1924 was the year after which the infamous, though unsuccessful, Munich "Beer hall" Putsch took place in Bavaria.

This was a turning point for the politics of the NSDAP (Nationalsozialistiche Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), the National Socialist German Workers Party. They went from trying to obtain power over Germany by force to doing so legally via politics and the Reichstag (German parliament).

Answer: 100

As with the majority of currencies, 100 subunits make up one unit. There were 100 Reichspfennig in one Reichsmark just as there were 100 Rentenpfennig in one Rentenmark.
Britain was famous for having 240 pennies in one old British pound in the days of pre-decimalisation, where one shilling was worth five pence and so on. Utterly confusing!

Answer: Bronze

Bronze often seems to be the material of choice when it comes to creating the lower denominations of currency. In Britain, the immediate choice of material used to create the 1 pence and the 2 pence coins was indeed bronze. Bronze is a metallic alloy usually consisting of copper (Cu) and tin (Sn) with copper usually being the major constituent.

Answer: Before: Silver - After: Nickel

In 1927, the striking of one Reichsmark coins was ceased and six years later, in 1933, the German Reichsbank started to create nickel based one Reichsmark coins. Despite no longer using silver for the one Reichsmark coin, silver (of varying fineness) was still used in the production of other coins including both the two Reichsmark coins and the five Reichsmarks coins.

Answer: Eagle

The eagle was the animal of choice in Nazi Germany, it was seen everywhere from on banknotes and coins to a statue in the German Reichstag itself. The coins that pictured the Eagle had some variations which were usually regarding the Nazi swastika. Some coins had the swastika underneath the eagle whilst others had it omitted. For the three years between 1945 and 1948 that the Reichsmark was still being struck, all coins and banknotes created had the swastika removed which is usually a quick indicator of the date for collectors.

Answer: Justus von Liebig

Justus von Liebig was a German professor and chemist who was renowned for his endeavours and discoveries in the field of organic chemistry and in particular the use of nitrogen-based fertilisers. The demand for such fertilisers is extremely high and the demand is efficiently met with the supply from the products of the Haber process.

This process is where nitrogen and hydrogen gases react to form ammonia which is subsequently used in fertilisers which have revolutionised modern agriculture as we now know it.

He is also said to be one of the greatest teachers of chemistry that there has ever been. The note itself, worth 100 Reichsmark, is blue to green in colour and has the head of Professor von Liebig on the right hand side. This note has a large swastika in the background and was the first such banknote to use the now infamous symbol of evil. On the reverse is a vignette of three women.

Answer: Reichsbank

The Reichsbank (Deutsche Reichsbank) had a turbulent history since it began production of currency in 1876. It would ultimately collapse in the same year as the Third Reich, 1945. The Reichsbank was, for the most part, an independent organisation but was reestablished as a government organisation in 1937 to be controlled by Adolf Hitler himself. Hitler didn't have much interest in the economy and usually delegated to many people. Economically, there were two independent finance departments which participated in the social Darwinist style of governing - "divide and rule" and the "survival of the fittest"! Walther Funk, a prominent Nazi and economic affairs minister, was the final president of the Reichsbank.

Answer: 1948

Adolf Hitler, Fuehrer of Germany, committed suicide on April 30th 1945 along with his wife, Eva Braun. He also ordered his personal physician, Dr. Stumpfegger, to kill his dog Blondi with a potassium cyanide capsule. Just days later the Third Reich capitulated and the Nazi in charge, Admiral Karl Doenitz, gave way.

However, the Reichsmark lived on and was in circulation until 1948 until it was succeeded by two new currencies, one for either side of the Berlin wall. This is being used only as a figure of speech as the Berlin wall wasn't erected until 1961, though in effect the wall was constructed well before this date with disagreements between east and west.

Answer: Mark

After World War II, Europe was well and truly divided with the Communist influence from the USSR prevalent in the east, and the capitalist influence in the west. The western part of Germany established a new capital city in Bonn, the birth place of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, and they used the new Deutsche Mark. The east however, under communist rule, started using the Mark which is also known as the East German Mark which was split up in to 100 pfennigs.

I hope you enjoyed this quiz on what I find a fascinating history and a great hobby. Thanks for playing!