Series of Banknotes

Banknote: A priest, wearing a robe and with hair cut in tonsure, presenting an object, which is glowing red, to a group of people who offer coins in exchange. The note represents 100 pfennig and is for the town of Sternberg.

First banknote in the series depicts Jewish men trading coins for communion bread.

Banknote: A group of men stabbing a round object on a table. Blood gushes out of it and drips from the table to the floor. The note represents 100 pfennig and is for the town of Sternberg.

Second banknote in the series shows blood flowing from the communion bread as Jewish men stab it with knives.

Banknote: Several men being burned at the stake. The note represents 100 pfennig and is for the town of Sternberg.

Third banknote in the series depicts the Jewish men being burned alive.

After the First World War, German towns created emergency money to deal with extreme inflation. In 1922, the town of Sternberg issued these three banknotes during the hyperinflation crisis. They show the infamous massacre of the town’s Jews in the 15th century.

The first banknote depicts Jewish men trading coins for the sacred bread used in the Christian communion ritual to represent the body of Jesus Christ. The second banknote shows the Jewish men stabbing the communion bread with knives and red blood pouring out from it. The image promotes the myth that Jews were to blame for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by depicting them symbolically repeating this act with the communion bread. The third banknote shows the Sternberg Jews being buried alive at the state in revenge.

Donated to the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre by Peter N. Moogk. 2019.049.004. 2019.049.005. 2019.049.006

Series of Banknotes

Image Slideshow