Those who are fond of the history of minting coins by European states at the beginning of the last century could not help but notice that due to military needs, a number of countries during the First World War were forced to abandon the issue of coins from strategic materials such as brass, bronze, copper, nickel and switch to less popular in the military industry zinc and steel. Issued coins sometimes repeated the design of their pre-war "predecessors," but only in a different material, or, came out in a completely new design . I want to tell you about these coins, as well as coins issued by the conquering countries for circulation in the occupied territories, accompanying my review with illustrations of coins from my own collection.
A little for reference. Russia in this war was part of the Entente bloc, while the Central Powers opposed the bloc. The Central Powers included the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Bulgarian Kingdom and their allies. The Entente included Russia, England, France and allied states.
Contents:
Austria-Hungary
So let's start with the state, whose assassination of an Archduke named Franz Ferdinand is officially considered the reason for the outbreak of World War I on June 28, 1914. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was formed in 1867 and included several states and territories of Europe. After the collapse of the empire following the results of the First World War, the Austrian Republic, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, as well as the lands that subsequently went to Romania, Yugoslavia (KSHS) and Italy were formed on its territory. During the hostilities, coins in denominations of 1, 2 hellers in bronze and silver crowns continued to be minted for some time. At the same time, with the outbreak of war, the issue of nickel coins in denominations of 10 and 20 hellers was discontinued. They were replaced by a new line of coins from 1915-1918.
The 1 heller coin, issued only in 1916, resembles coins of the same denomination from the minting period of 1892-1916, but with a different coat of arms design - the coat of arms of Cisleitania instead of the coat of arms of the Austrian Empire. Cisleitania - the lands of the Austrian crown as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The lands of the Hungarian crown were called Translatania.
KM # 2824, 2 Hellers 1918, Iron, 81.2 MMex. production years 1916-1918.
The face value of 10 hellers in wartime was issued in two versions: the first type - the coat of arms of the Austrian Empire, the second type - the coat of arms of Cisleitania. In addition to the new design, they are also distinguished from pre-war coins by the composition of the blanks: copper-nickel-zinc alloy replaced pure nickel blanks.
KM # 2822, 10 Hellers 1915, Copper-Nickel-Zinc Alloy, 18.4 MM Equivalent, Years 1915,1916
KM # 2825, 10 Hellers 1916, Copper-Nickel-Zinc Alloy, 14.8 MMSCR, Single Year of Manufacture
20 hellers were released in iron also in a new design.
KM # 2826, 20 Hellers 1918, Iron, 49 MMex. production years 1916-1918.
Hungary
Hungary, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, all its time in its composition, continued to mint its coin with the profile of the Austro-Hungarian monarchs. The revolutions that stirred Austria-Hungary in 1918 led to the formation of the Hungarian People's Republic. The line of "military" coins included coins in denominations of 2, 10 and 20 fillers of a new type.
KM # 497, 2 fillers 1917, iron, production years 1916-1918.
KM # 494, 10 fillers 1915, copper-nickel-zinc alloy, years 1914-1916.
KM # 496, 10 fillers 1918, iron, years 1915,1918,1920.
Coinage of 20 fillers began in 1914 and continued after the collapse of the Autro-Hungarian Empire until 1921. In 1926, a monetary reform was carried out.
KM # 498, 20 fillers 1916, iron, years 1914-1921.
German Empire
The next member of the Central Powers bloc is the German Empire. Formed on January 18, 1871 at the merger of several German states, the German Empire in 1918 was defeated in the First World War, which significantly affected the political situation in the country. The November Revolution of 1918 led to the collapse of the empire and the formation of the Weimar Republic. It should be noted that the mood of the German population following the results of the First World War played a significant role in the formation and heyday of National Socialism in the first half of the 20th century, which led to the Second World War.
The German state issued new types of "war coins." The coat of arms on the aluminum pfennig is made in the design of 1871-1888.
KM # 24, 1 Pfennig 1917, Aluminium, 27.2 M equivalent, years 1916-1918
5 pfennigs of the 1915-1922 model were also produced in a completely updated design. In the previous issue, the inscription indicating the state and the name of the monetary unit were located along the edge of the coin.
KM # 19, 5 pfennigs 1918, iron, 23.6 million copies, years of production 1915-1922
10 pfennig. Large points along the edge leave an impression of massiveness and reliability.
KM # 20, 10 pfennigs 1917, iron, 53.2 million copies, production years 1916-1922
At the same time, 10 pfennig coins were issued in a different design and material.
KM # 26, 10 pfennig 1917, zinc, 71.1 MMex. years of production 1917-1922
Ottoman Empire
The collapse of the Ottoman Empire is also impossible to consider in isolation from the country's defeat in World War I. In 1922, an uprising led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk led to the flight of the last sultan of the empire, Mehmed VI, and in 1923 to the formation of the Republic of Turkey. Unlike its bloc allies, the Ottoman Empire did not change the design of its coins during World War I, but, moving slightly away from the main theme, in order for Dear readers to have an idea of the coins of that period, I will present several exchange coins of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the last century of the reign of Sultan Mehmed V (1909-1918).
KM # 759, 5 pair 1912 (Reshat), nickel, 21.4 million equivalent, years of production 1910-1915
KM # 767, 5 pair 1915 (El Ghazi), nickel, 740 thousand equivalent, only year of production
KM # 760, 10 pair 1915 (Reshat), nickel, 21.7 million equivalent, years of production 1910-1915
KM # 768, 10 para 1915 (El Ghazi), nickel, years 1915,1916
KM # 761, 20 pair 1914 (Reshat), nickel, 20.7 million equivalent, years of manufacture 1909-1915
KM # 766, 40 pair 1911 (Reshat), nickel, 8.7 million equivalent, years 1910-1912
KM # 779, 40 pair 1916 (El Ghazi), copper-nickel alloy, 16.3 million equivalent, years of manufacture 1916.1917
KM # 748, 1 kurush 1910, silver 0.830, years 1909-1911
KM # 749, 2 kurusha 1910, silver 0.830, years 1909-1914
Egypt
The history of Egypt is also connected with the First World War. Occupied by Great Britain in 1882, Egypt by 1914 was still formally part of the Ottoman Empire. But after the Khedive of Egypt Abbas II sided with the Ottoman Empire and the Central Powers in World War I, Great Britain immediately removed him and established a British protectorate over Egypt, led by Sultan Hussein Kamil. In 1916, 1917, the new Egyptian government issued its coins: bronze 1/2 millima, copper-nickel 1, 2, 5, 10 millima and silver 2, 5, 10, 20 piasters. Here are some of the coins listed.
KM # 312, ½ Millim 1917, Bronze, 4 MMexe, Single Year
KM # 313, 1 millimeter 1917, copper-nickel alloy, 12 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
KM # 314, 2 millimeters 1917, copper-nickel alloy, 9 million equivalent , years of manufacture 1916.1917
KM # 315, 5 millimeter 1917, copper-nickel alloy, 37 million equivalent , years of manufacture 1916,1917
KM # 316, 10 millimeter 1917, copper-nickel alloy, 4 million equivalent , years of manufacture 1916.1917
KM # 317.1, 2 piasters 1917, silver 0.833, 4.5 M ex , years 1916.1917
KM # 318.1, 5 piastres 1916, silver 0.833, 6 M ex . years 1916.1917
KM # 319, 10 piastres 1917, silver 0.833, 4.9 M ex . years 1916.1917
Bulgaria
Having declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908, the Bulgarian principality acted in this war against Russia, which was part of the opposite military bloc. But less than 40 years before that, thousands of Russian soldiers laid down their heads in the Russian-Turkish liberation war of 1877-1878...
The line of zinc "military" coins of the 1917 model in denominations of 5, 10, 20 stotinki completely repeated the design of its predecessors made of copper-nickel alloy of previous years of minting.
KM # 24a, 5 stotinok 1917, zinc, 53.2 million copies, only year of production
KM # 25a, 10 stotinok 1917, zinc, 59.1 million copies, only year of manufacture
KM # 26a, 20 stotinok 1917, zinc, 40 million ex. only year of production
Belgium
The First World War practically did not affect the issue of coins by the main countries participating in the Entente. Nevertheless, specially issued coins were in circulation in the territories occupied by Germany. Zinc 5, 10, 25, 50 cents of special design were produced between 1915 and 1918. The most infrequent coin in this line - 50 cents was issued only in 1918 with a circulation of 7.4 million. Unlike previous "pre-war" and subsequent "post-war" issues, the German authorities did not issue double "bilingual" sets of coins traditional for this country and combined both types in one coin, there are inscriptions in both French and Flemish.
KM # 80 , 5 centimes 1916, zinc, 45.5 million equivalent, years of manufacture 1915,1916
KM # 81 , 10 centimes 1916, zinc, 37.4 million equivalent, production years 1915-1917
KM # 82 , 25 centimes 1917, zinc, 3.6 million copies, years of production 1915-1918
KM # 83 , 50 centimes 1918, zinc, 7.4 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
Germany for the Russian Empire
The most popular coins of the German Empire from collectors from Russia, issued for the occupied territories of Poland, the Baltic states and the north-west of the Russian Empire.
Iron coins 1, 2, 3 kopecks were issued only in 1916 by the mints of Berlin (A) and Hamburg (J).
KM # 21 , 1 kopeck 1916, iron, 11.9 million copies, only year of production
KM # 22 , 2 kopecks 1916, iron, 8 million copies, only year of production
KM # 23 , 3 kopecks 1916, iron, 8 million copies, only year of production
Poland
Poland, which at the beginning of World War I was part of the Russian Empire, was occupied by Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1915. On November 5, 1916, the Kingdom of Poland, independent of the Russian Empire, was formed. It is noteworthy that the name "Kingdom" implies, at a minimum, the presence of a king, who was not in Poland at that time. The last king of Poland, Stanislav II August Poniatowski, renounced power in 1795.... The newly formed "Kingdom of Poland" in 1917, 1918 released 1, 5, 10, 20 fennigs of iron. There are specimens mistakenly made on zinc blanks, which are considered rare.
Y # 4, 1 Phenig 1918, Iron, 51.5 MMex, Single Year of Manufacture
Y # 5, 5 Phenigs 1918, Iron, 22.7 MMex, Years 1917,1918
Y # 6, 10 Phenigs 1917, Iron, 33 MMex, Years 1917,1918
Y # 7, 20 Phenigs 1917, Iron, 1.9 MMex, Years 1917,1918
Luxembourg
In Luxembourg occupied by German troops in 1915-1916, "military" occupation coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25 centimes were also issued.
KM # 27, 5 centimes 1915, zinc, 1.2 million copies, only year of manufacture
KM # 28, 10 centimes 1915, zinc, 1.4 million equivalent, only year of manufacture
KM # 29, 25 centimes 1916, zinc, 800 thousand equivalent, years of manufacture 1916.1920
Sweden
Both the Central Powers and the Entente, with the outbreak of World War I, predicted the imminent entry of Sweden into the war on the side of the Central Powers. This was facilitated by the political mood in the country. Nevertheless, Sweden chose a position of neutrality and during the war "earned" on the supply of materials and vehicles to the warring parties, primarily Germany and Great Britain. This position of Sweden was negatively perceived by both the Entente and the Central Powers: German submarines sank Swedish merchant ships bound for Britain, England sought to take control of Sweden's foreign trade with Germany. In 1917, there was a shortage of food in the country, an economic crisis was brewing. In the same year, Sweden issued a new type of coin - iron 1,2,5 era, similar in design to pre-war bronze coins. It is noteworthy that in 1919 iron coins were replaced again with bronze ones. The minting of coins of this type from iron was resumed in 1942 during the Second World War and continued until 1950, until the next monetary reform.
KM # 789 , 1st era 1917, iron, 8.1 million copies, years of production 1917-1919
KM # 790 , 2nd era 1917, iron, 4.6 million copies, years of production 1917-1919
KM # 791 , 5th era 1917, iron, 3 million ex. years of production 1917-1919
Norway
In a similar situation, like Sweden, was Norway, which also maintained neutrality in this war. Taking advantage of this, the country had the opportunity to supply its goods to both warring parties. Nevertheless, this neutrality became more and more "pro-English" and "pro-Entente" with the course of the war. Although Norway, under pressure from the Entente countries, participated in the economic blockade of Germany and mined its coastal waters to protect it from the German fleet, nevertheless did not completely refuse to export to Germany. Due to the difficult financial and political situation in the country, in Norway from 1917 to 1920, the 1st, 2nd, 5th era also began to be produced from iron.
KM # 367a , 1st era 1918, iron, 6 million exes, years 1918-1921
KM # 371a , 2nd era 1920, iron, 2.6 million copies, years 1917-1920
KM # 368a , 5th era 1919, iron, 3.5 million copies, years 1917-1920
Denmark
Another Scandinavian state, which remained neutral in the First World War, which at the same time successfully traded with both warring parties. Only at the very end of World War I, in 1918, the blockade of sea lanes by German troops led to a reduction in production and an increase in unemployment. In 1918-1919, the bronze 1,2,5 ore was replaced by iron.
KM # 812.1a , 1st era 1918, iron, 6.8 M ex, single year of manufacture
KM # 813.1a , 2nd era 1918, iron, 4.2 M ex, single year of manufacture
KM # 814.1a , 5th era 1918, iron, 1.9 M ex, single year of manufacture
Switzerland
The neutral state during the First World War - the Swiss Confederation - in wartime switched to the issue of coins from a different material. In 1918, denominations of 5 and 10 rappen were first issued in brass. Let me remind you that before that, starting in 1879, coins were issued exclusively from a copper-nickel alloy. The circulation of coins of both denominations amounted to 6 million ex. After the official end of the war, 10 rappen in 1919 were once again released in this metal in half the circulation. And 5 rappen again began to be produced in copper-nickel.
KM # 26a , 5 Rappen 1918, Brass, 6M Ex., Single Year of Manufacture
KM # 27a , 10 rappen 1918, brass, 6M equivalent, years 1918,1919
France
France, a member of the Entente, with the outbreak of war did not change the design and material of the issued line of exchange coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50 centimes, 1 and 2 francs, minted since 1898. Nevertheless, in 1914, the release of nickel coins with an unconventional face value of 25 centimes in a completely new design was organized. Coins of this type were issued annually from 1914 to 1917, so I will classify them as "military" coins, although not quite consistent with the chosen principle - while the warring states abandoned nickel in favor of iron and zinc, the French issued a pure nickel coin . The circulation of coins is small, and does not exceed 1 million exes. For comparison, the circulation of similar-type coins made of copper-nickel alloy of the 1917-1937 model reached 30 million copies. The design of the coin took root, and in 1917 the denominations of 5, 10 centimes instead of bronze also came out in a similar design on copper-nickel blanks . I present to your attention a coin from the first issue.
KM # 867. 25 centime 1914, nickel, 941 thousand equivalent, years of manufacture 1914-1917