1943 · Theresienstadt
by Kien, Peter (designed)
Theresienstadt: Der Alteste der Juden, 1943. vg. This collection is comprised of the complete seven-piece currency set from the notorious Theresienstadt camp, which sheds light on the elaborate sham by the Nazi propaganda machine to present Terezin as a "model camp." Even though no normal trade and business activities were possible in concentration camps, it was not uncommon to see local notes and tokens. As soon as deportees arrived they had to exchange all their money, bonds and shares into “local currency.”
At the camp of Theresienstadt located North of Prague and in the old stronghold of Terezin, the notes were divided into the following seven denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Kronen - the Krone being the currency of Bohemia and Moravia. All those different values had the same design, but differed in size and color.*
The front of the notes has a vignette of Moses holding the tablets of the Ten Commandments at left. In the center are the words “Quittung Über” (Receipt for), the denomination in words then the denomination in numerals and a warning against counterfeiting. At the lower right is the denomination in numerals and a six pointed Star of David. The back of the notes includes the same “Quittung über” followed by the denomination. The place and date at lower left and the title - the first Elder of the Jews in Theresienstadt - and signature of Jakob Edelstein are at lower right. At lower left the Star of David and denomination in figures. The upper left contains the serial number (20, 50, 100 kr) or plate letter and number (1, 2, 5, 10 kr).
The notes were designed in 1942 by Czech artist, poet and inmate Peter Kien** who died in Auschwitz in 1944. The primary design was a vignette of Moses holding the Ten Commandments and it was approved in the first instance by Jacob Edelstein, the Chief of Theresienstadt’s Council of Elders. His original design of Moses’ portrait was approved by the Council of Jewish Elders and the camp commandant but not by Adolf Eichmann, head of the Gestapo Department for Jewish Affairs. He considered Moses too Aryan in appearance and ordered that he should be portrayed with a prominent hooked nose and curly hair. Eichmann also required that Moses’ hand obscure the commandment “Thou shalt not kill,” and that the denominations be changed from “Ghetto Kronen” to just “Kronen.” The notes were dated 1st January 1943, but the first distribution was not made until May 12 1943.
Although an effective tool to perpetuate the ruse of normality within Theresienstadt, the notes had no real economic value but could be used to pay certain taxes, amongst others those on packages entering the camps (above the taxes already paid by the sender). Camp shops were only shop windows and, ironically, those windows were mostly filled with objects seized from the Jews at their arrival in the ghettos.
Life in the ghetto had little in common with the note’s lavish design. Almost all inmates perished or were transported to Auschwitz. More than 140.000 Jews have been transported to Theresienstadt. At the time of its liberation on May 8, 1945 only a little more than 17,000 starving and terrorized inmates were found.
Some notes with minor to light creases and/or smudges, mostly to extremities. Some have vertical folding creases down the middle. All things considered, the notes are in very good condition. The notes are all portected in plastic sleeves. * 1 Kronen (green): Number printed: 2,242,000; Size: 3 7/8 x 2" (98 x 49mm); Series letters: A & plate number
2 Kronen (red): Number printed: 1,019,000; Size: 4 1/4 x 2 1/8" (107 x 53mm); Series letters: A & plate number
5 Kronen (brown): Number printed: 530,000; Size: 4 1/2 x 2 1/4" (113 x 57mm); Series letters: A & plate number
10 Kronen (blue): Number printed: 456,000; Size: 4 7/8 x 2 1/2" (124 x 62mm); Series letters: A & plate number
20 Kronen (green): Number printed: 319,000; Size: 5 1/8 x 2 5/8" (130 x 67mm); Series letters: A-R & serial number Kronen (blue): Number printed: 159,000; Size: 5 1/2 x 2 3/4" (139 x 70mm); Series letters: A-H & serial number
100 Kronen (tan): Number printed: 279,000; Size: 5 3/4 x 3 1/8" (148 x 79mm); Series letters: A-O & serial number
** Peter Kien (1919-1944) was a Jewish artist and poet active at the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Between his arrival at Terezin in 1941 and his deportation to Auschwitz, Kien was officially the director of the Technical Drawing Office of the Jewish Self Administration. Using stolen paper, he rendered many sketches of living conditions in the Terezin ghetto. These works range amongst the most important ones documenting that Theresienstadt was indeed a concentration camp rather than the model Jewish settlement as it was portrayed by the Nazis in public. The drawings accurately reflect that its inhabitants were confined under inhuman conditions. On October 16, 1944, Peter Kien was deported to Auschwitz, with his parents and his wife, in the final transport. He died from disease soon after his arrival. None of the others survived. (Inventory #: 54739)
At the camp of Theresienstadt located North of Prague and in the old stronghold of Terezin, the notes were divided into the following seven denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Kronen - the Krone being the currency of Bohemia and Moravia. All those different values had the same design, but differed in size and color.*
The front of the notes has a vignette of Moses holding the tablets of the Ten Commandments at left. In the center are the words “Quittung Über” (Receipt for), the denomination in words then the denomination in numerals and a warning against counterfeiting. At the lower right is the denomination in numerals and a six pointed Star of David. The back of the notes includes the same “Quittung über” followed by the denomination. The place and date at lower left and the title - the first Elder of the Jews in Theresienstadt - and signature of Jakob Edelstein are at lower right. At lower left the Star of David and denomination in figures. The upper left contains the serial number (20, 50, 100 kr) or plate letter and number (1, 2, 5, 10 kr).
The notes were designed in 1942 by Czech artist, poet and inmate Peter Kien** who died in Auschwitz in 1944. The primary design was a vignette of Moses holding the Ten Commandments and it was approved in the first instance by Jacob Edelstein, the Chief of Theresienstadt’s Council of Elders. His original design of Moses’ portrait was approved by the Council of Jewish Elders and the camp commandant but not by Adolf Eichmann, head of the Gestapo Department for Jewish Affairs. He considered Moses too Aryan in appearance and ordered that he should be portrayed with a prominent hooked nose and curly hair. Eichmann also required that Moses’ hand obscure the commandment “Thou shalt not kill,” and that the denominations be changed from “Ghetto Kronen” to just “Kronen.” The notes were dated 1st January 1943, but the first distribution was not made until May 12 1943.
Although an effective tool to perpetuate the ruse of normality within Theresienstadt, the notes had no real economic value but could be used to pay certain taxes, amongst others those on packages entering the camps (above the taxes already paid by the sender). Camp shops were only shop windows and, ironically, those windows were mostly filled with objects seized from the Jews at their arrival in the ghettos.
Life in the ghetto had little in common with the note’s lavish design. Almost all inmates perished or were transported to Auschwitz. More than 140.000 Jews have been transported to Theresienstadt. At the time of its liberation on May 8, 1945 only a little more than 17,000 starving and terrorized inmates were found.
Some notes with minor to light creases and/or smudges, mostly to extremities. Some have vertical folding creases down the middle. All things considered, the notes are in very good condition. The notes are all portected in plastic sleeves. * 1 Kronen (green): Number printed: 2,242,000; Size: 3 7/8 x 2" (98 x 49mm); Series letters: A & plate number
2 Kronen (red): Number printed: 1,019,000; Size: 4 1/4 x 2 1/8" (107 x 53mm); Series letters: A & plate number
5 Kronen (brown): Number printed: 530,000; Size: 4 1/2 x 2 1/4" (113 x 57mm); Series letters: A & plate number
10 Kronen (blue): Number printed: 456,000; Size: 4 7/8 x 2 1/2" (124 x 62mm); Series letters: A & plate number
20 Kronen (green): Number printed: 319,000; Size: 5 1/8 x 2 5/8" (130 x 67mm); Series letters: A-R & serial number Kronen (blue): Number printed: 159,000; Size: 5 1/2 x 2 3/4" (139 x 70mm); Series letters: A-H & serial number
100 Kronen (tan): Number printed: 279,000; Size: 5 3/4 x 3 1/8" (148 x 79mm); Series letters: A-O & serial number
** Peter Kien (1919-1944) was a Jewish artist and poet active at the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Between his arrival at Terezin in 1941 and his deportation to Auschwitz, Kien was officially the director of the Technical Drawing Office of the Jewish Self Administration. Using stolen paper, he rendered many sketches of living conditions in the Terezin ghetto. These works range amongst the most important ones documenting that Theresienstadt was indeed a concentration camp rather than the model Jewish settlement as it was portrayed by the Nazis in public. The drawings accurately reflect that its inhabitants were confined under inhuman conditions. On October 16, 1944, Peter Kien was deported to Auschwitz, with his parents and his wife, in the final transport. He died from disease soon after his arrival. None of the others survived. (Inventory #: 54739)
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