German Rentenmark
| German Rentenmark | |
|---|---|
| Rentenmark (German) | |
| Central bank | Deutschen Rentenbank |
| User(s) |
 Germany |
| Subunit | |
| 1/100 | Rentenpfennig |
| Symbol | RM |
| Rentenpfennig | Rpf. |
| Plural | Rentenmark |
| Rentenpfennig | Rentenpfennig |
| Coins |
1, 2, 5, 10, 50 Rentenpfennig 1, 3 Rentenmark |
| Banknotes | 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000 Rentenmark |
|
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. | |
The 
Rentenmark (help·info) (RM) was a currency issued on 15 October 1923 to stop the hyperinflation of 1922 and 1923 in Germany. It was subdivided into 100 Rentenpfennig.
History
The Rentenmark replaced the Papiermark. Because of the economic crisis in Germany after World War I, there was no gold available to back the currency. Therefore the Deutschen Rentenbank, which issued the Rentenmark, mortgaged land and industrial goods worth 3.2 billion Rentenmark to back the new currency. The Rentenmark was introduced at a rate of one Rentenmark to equal one trillion old marks, with an exchange rate of one United States dollar to equal 4.2 Rentenmarks.
The Act creating the Rentenmark backed the currency by means of twice yearly payments on property, due in April and October, payable for five years. Although the Rentenmark was not legal tender, it was accepted by the population and its value was relatively stable. The Act prohibited the recently privatised Reichsbank from continuing to discount bills and the inflation of the Papiermark immediately stopped. The Reichsmark became the new legal tender on 30 August 1924, equal in value to the Rentenmark.
The monetary policy spearheaded by Hjalmar Schacht—the Central Banker—together with the fiscal policy of German Chancellor Gustav Stresemann and Finance Minister Hans Luther brought the inflation in Germany to an end.
The Rentenbank continued to exist after 1924 and the notes and coins continued to circulate. The last Rentenmark notes were valid until 1948.
Coins
Coins were issued dated 1923, 1924 and 1925 in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 Rentenpfennig. Only small numbers of Rentenpfennig coins were produced in 1925. A few 1 Rentenpfennig coins were struck dated 1929. The 1 and 2 Rentenpfennig were minted in bronze, with the remaining coins in aluminium-bronze.
Banknotes
The first issue of banknotes was dated 1 November 1923 and was in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Rentenmark. Later issues of notes were 10 and 50 Rentenmark (1925), 5 Rentenmark (1926), 50 Rentenmark (1934) and 1 and 2 Rentenmark and dated 1937.
See also
References
- Krause, Chester L., and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
- Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (7th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.
- Act creating the Rentenmark Reichsgzetzblatt Teil I, 17 October 1923
- GermanNotes.com (2005). German Paper Money 1871–1999. eBook from germannotes.com
Currencies of Germany
| Preceded by: German papiermark Ratio: 1 Rentenmark = 1,000,000,000,000 Papiermark, and 4.2 Rentenmark = US$1 |
Currency of Germany 15 November 1923 – 29 August 1924 |
Circulates in Germany 30 August 1924 – 1948 Note: Reichsmark was the legal tender |
Succeeded by: East German mark Reason: reaction to the change over in Trizone (later West Germany) Ratio: 1 Mark = 7 Rentenmark on the first 70 Rentenmark for private individuals, otherwise 1 Kuponmark = 10 Rentenmark |
| Succeeded by: Deutsche Mark Reason: intended to protect West Germany from the second wave of hyperinflation and stop the rampant barter and black market trade Ratio: 1 Deutsche Mark = 1 Rentenmark for first 600 RM, 1 Deutsche Mark = 10 Rentenmark thereafter, plus each person received 40 Deutsche Mark | |||
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