Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 50 kronen note 2004.684.1 front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Scrip, valued at 50 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. The Germans had the scrip issued to instill a sense of normalcy within the huge ghetto. 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, most of disease and starvation.
Scrip, valued at 50 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. The Germans had the scrip issued to instill a sense of normalcy within the huge ghetto. 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, most of disease and starvation.
- Title: Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 50 kronen note 2004.684.1 front
- Provenance: The Theresienstadt scrip was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004 by Marie Konetopska., The Theresienstadt scrip was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004 by Marie Konetopska.
- Subject Keywords: Concentration camp inmates--Czech Republic--Terezin (Severocesky kraj) Concentration camps--Economic aspects. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Czech Republic--Terezin (Severocesky kraj) Jewish ghettos--Czech Republic--Terezin (Severocesky kraj), Concentration camp inmates--Czech Republic--Terezin (Severocesky kraj) Concentration camps--Economic aspects. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Czech Republic--Terezin (Severocesky kraj) Jewish ghettos--Czech Republic--Terezin (Severocesky 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: Theresienstadt scrip printed on rectangular, offwhite paper in black and light blue ink. On the face is a vignette with an image of Moses, a bearded man with a wrinkled brow, holding 2 stone tablets with the 10 Commandments in Hebrew. To the right is the denomination 50 and German text. The background rectangle has an abstract repeating pattern. On the right side is a wide, offwhite border with the denomination 50 in the bottom corner below a Star of David. The reverse has a blue/green vertical beaded design with an orange center streak, a flourish, German text, an engraved signature, and a large scrollwork line. The denomination 50 is in the upper right corner. On the left side is a wide, offwhite border with the denomination 50 in the bottom corner below a Star of David. The serial number 002469 is in red in the upper left corner. The series letter H in red ink is on the lower right. There are small stains., Theresienstadt scrip printed on rectangular, offwhite paper in black and light blue ink. On the face is a vignette with an image of Moses, a bearded man with a wrinkled brow, holding 2 stone tablets with the 10 Commandments in Hebrew. To the right is the denomination 50 and German text. The background rectangle has an abstract repeating pattern. On the right side is a wide, offwhite border with the denomination 50 in the bottom corner below a Star of David. The reverse has a blue/green vertical beaded design with an orange center streak, a flourish, German text, an engraved signature, and a large scrollwork line. The denomination 50 is in the upper right corner. On the left side is a wide, offwhite border with the denomination 50 in the bottom corner below a Star of David. The serial number 002469 is in red in the upper left corner. The series letter H in red ink is on the lower right. There are small stains.
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