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Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 1 krone note 2012.68.2 front

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States

Scrip, valued at 1 kronen, issued in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp in 1943. All currency was confiscated from deportees upon entry and replaced with scrip and ration coupons that could be exchanged only in the camp. The currency was designed by inmate Peter Kien and printed by the National Bank of Prague. Inmates received the scrip according to a 5-tiered distribution system or as payment for conscript labor arranged by the Jewish Council of Elders who administered the daily life of the ghetto for the Germans. It is unclear what, if anything, could be purchased with the scrip, which was printed in great volume. Theresienstadt camp, located in German occupied Czechoslovakia, existed for 3.5 years, from November 24, 1941 to May 9, 1945. Approximately 140,000 Jews were sent to Theresienstadt; nearly 90,000 were deported to near certain death in the east, and roughly 33,000 died in the camp, most of disease and starvation.

Scrip, valued at 1 kronen, issued in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp in 1943. All currency was confiscated from deportees upon entry and replaced with scrip and ration coupons that could be exchanged only in the camp. The currency was designed by inmate Peter Kien and printed by the National Bank of Prague. Inmates received the scrip according to a 5-tiered distribution system or as payment for conscript labor arranged by the Jewish Council of Elders who administered the daily life of the ghetto for the Germans. It is unclear what, if anything, could be purchased with the scrip, which was printed in great volume. Theresienstadt camp, located in German occupied Czechoslovakia, existed for 3.5 years, from November 24, 1941 to May 9, 1945. Approximately 140,000 Jews were sent to Theresienstadt; nearly 90,000 were deported to near certain death in the east, and roughly 33,000 died in the camp, most of disease and starvation.

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  • Title: Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 1 krone note 2012.68.2 front
  • Location: Czechoslovakia--History--1938-1945., Czechoslovakia--History--1938-1945.
  • Provenance: The Theresienstadt scrip was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2012 by Martin Shallow III., The Theresienstadt scrip was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2012 by Martin Shallow III.
  • Subject Keywords: Concentration camps--Economic aspects--Czech Republic--Terezin (Ustecky kraj) Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Czechoslovakia--Economic aspects. Jewish ghettos--Economic aspects--Czech Republic--Terezin (Ustecky kraj), Concentration camps--Economic aspects--Czech Republic--Terezin (Ustecky kraj) Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Czechoslovakia--Economic aspects. Jewish ghettos--Economic aspects--Czech Republic--Terezin (Ustecky kraj)
  • Type: Exchange Media, Exchange Media
  • Rights: Permanent Collection, Permanent Collection
  • External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Medium: Offwhite paper scrip with a graphic design on the face in black and blue ink on a blue patterned background. On the left is a medallion with an image of Moses holding 2 stone tablets with the 10 Commandments in Hebrew characters; to the right is the denomination in German text and a numeral 1, with text below. On the right side is a wide, offwhite border with the denomination 1 below a 6-pointed Star of David. The reverse has a blue geometric background design with a central purple streak, German text, and a scrollwork line. Below the text is an engraved signature. The denomination 1 is in the upper right corner. The left side has a wide, off-white border with the denomination 1 below a 6-pointed Star of David. The plate letter and number A041 are in the upper left corner. The scrip is discolored and stained, with vertical and horizontal creases., Offwhite paper scrip with a graphic design on the face in black and blue ink on a blue patterned background. On the left is a medallion with an image of Moses holding 2 stone tablets with the 10 Commandments in Hebrew characters; to the right is the denomination in German text and a numeral 1, with text below. On the right side is a wide, offwhite border with the denomination 1 below a 6-pointed Star of David. The reverse has a blue geometric background design with a central purple streak, German text, and a scrollwork line. Below the text is an engraved signature. The denomination 1 is in the upper right corner. The left side has a wide, off-white border with the denomination 1 below a 6-pointed Star of David. The plate letter and number A041 are in the upper left corner. The scrip is discolored and stained, with vertical and horizontal creases.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

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