A noteworthy collection

In 1930, an eight-year-old boy by the name of Albert Pick bought two emergency banknotes for one pfennig. They were the first two banknotes of what was to become a titanic collection. It was an unusual hobby – not just for a boy of his age, but in the wider world in general – yet it became a lifelong vocation. Over the course of his lifetime, he collected hundreds of thousands of banknotes, and we have the dedicated numismatist (a studier/collector of coins/banknotes) to thank for one of the world’s most comprehensive banknote collections, now maintained by the G+D Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung (the G+D Foundation Banknote Collection).

Banknotes as a reflection of society

Peter and Celia von Mitschke-Collande, members of the board at the G+D Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung; Königer; and former content curator Katharina Depner speak passionately about the collection. One of Peter’s favorite aspects of her role is constantly stumbling across new treasures: “There are so many exciting things to be discovered. Recently, we discovered a banknote featuring a very young Queen Elizabeth II.”

Depner nods: “Very young! She was about eight or nine years old – it’s perhaps the youngest depiction of Queen Elizabeth II on a banknote. It’s also available to view in the exhibition.” For the most-featured woman on a banknote worldwide,¹ this one is quite a coup.

Indeed, the reflection of society on banknotes is something that all of them find so fascinating. “There are many pieces that stick with you,” says Depner. “There is a Dutch edition from 1945 that has the date of liberation from the German occupation. And then just an excerpt from the national anthem – it’s about peace and tyranny. It was very moving.

There is also a series from the First Czechoslovak Republic, from 1918, around when the state was formed. “An Art Nouveau artist [Alphonse Mucha] designed the whole series of banknotes and tried to create a completely new iconography for this new state with Slavic history and Slavic elements. He put a great deal of thought into it.”

Preserving historical treasures

The preservation and conservation of these incredible pieces is of utmost importance for the G+D Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung, and von Mitschke-Collande emphasizes the importance of collaboration with scientists in preserving the banknotes: “Scientific collaboration takes place with numismatics. This is the field dedicated to coins and banknotes, with coins being the main theme. Banknotes are considerably younger than coins, in their history.”

Peter says that the organization also recognizes the importance of sharing these fascinating glimpses into the past with a wider audience. “The collection should be made accessible to the public in different ways, and we are working on a concept to increase that. We are also involved in the bavarikon digitalization project.² We have created a small virtual exhibition and some highlights that are described in detail.” bavarikon is Bavaria’s internet portal to present arts and culture in a digitalized form to make them accessible to everyone.

The G+D Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung also shares many of its banknotes with galleries and museums for exhibitions, as von Mitschke-Collande explains: “It is often the case that museums from other focus areas approach us. For example, there was a large exhibition on Karl Marx, and it was fitting to show a few banknotes from that time. With banknotes, you can always connect to a wide variety of themes through the motifs that can be seen.”

Von Mitschke-Collande underlines the dedication to preserving such precious banknotes. “The G+D Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung is a public foundation – it used to be the HVB Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung,” she explains. “The collection is related to G+D’s core business and that’s partly why it is so important to the G+D family – so that the cultural heritage is secured and such treasures are not lost.”

Unsurprisingly, the work that goes into conserving the banknotes is not to be taken lightly. As Depner explains, “The banknotes are housed in specially made albums created by a bookbinder and meet the relevant standards: they need to be resistant to aging, etc. They are very flexible, which is important because we are constantly adding notes. We also have special small envelopes, e.g. for emergency money, which have been specially made. In general, we have the perfect climate in this basement room where we can maintain the temperature that we need for paper – between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius.”

A short history of banknotes

We think nothing of sliding a banknote across a counter to pay for a coffee. How often do you think about the millennia of banknote development and how vital these past and future innovations are for all parts of our daily lives? It is perhaps no surprise that paper money originates from the country that first produced paper using mulberry fibers: China. G+D is in possession of one of the world’s earliest banknotes, a 14th-century banknote from China’s Ming dynasty.

From preserving the past, to a look at the future

As the foundation’s collection continues to grow, what are the G+D Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung’s plans for the future? Peter is one of the people responsible for further developing the foundation’s concept. “We’re working on a holistic strategy and are developing it in the following areas: the progress of digitalization and how we can further digitalize the collection; the partnerships that are available and the possibilities to build global networks; the potential for collaborative curation; how we can ensure added value for the company; and the placement and positioning of the company in the future.”

How have people paid in the past, and how will we pay in the future? The evolution of payment is the foundation of our economics, society, and daily lives. Innovations in payment go hand in hand with innovations in other areas. As such, it is important to learn from the past, so that we can see the requirements of the future more clearly.

Published: 17/08/2022