bavarikon4UPaper money in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic’s eventful history is reflected in its paper money issues. From 1867 to 1918, the Czech Republic was a semi-autonomous Crown land within Austria-Hungary. The monetary system during this period was therefore defined by the Austro-Hungarian Bank’s banknotes.
After the foundation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, the Austro-Hungarian Bank’s banknotes were provided with adhesive stamps. The Ministry of Finance was initially responsible for the monetary system. After the introduction of the new currency, the Czechoslovak koruna, they were replaced by the new state notes. Alfons Mucha (1860-1939), one of the country’s most important artists and founder of the "Art nouveau movement" in France, was commissioned to design the new series. He combined traditional motifs with modern Art Nouveau design. As a result, he created a national identity with symbols for the young state. In addition to banknotes, Alfons Mucha also designed stamps, documents and police uniforms for Czechoslovakia.
Plans to establish a national bank came to fruition in 1927. The National Bank of Czechoslovakia was now granted the right to issue banknotes, initially for a limited period of 15 years. For the first issues, the templates of the previous banknotes were still used, only the bank name was added. This was later followed by newly designed banknotes.
After the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Germany, the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and Slovakia were established as an independent state in 1939. Both parts circulated their own issues of banknotes. In the Protectorate, Czechoslovakia's state notes were provided with a stamp at first. Newly produced issues followed later. The issuing institutions were the Protectorate and the National Bank for Bohemia and Moravia.
The division was reversed with the liberation in 1945. In Czechoslovakia, banknotes were initially issued by the state, dated 1944. Slovakia’s banknotes came into circulation with adhesive stamps as additional means of payment. Finally, a first new issue of its own banknotes followed, produced in England. In addition to government issues, banknotes issued by the National Bank of Czechoslovakia were in circulation again.
Note: The issues of the Austro-Hungarian Bank are not shown separately in this sub-collection, but can be seen in the Austria sub-collection.
>> This collection is part of the holdings of "Paper money in Europe" of the Giesecke+Devrient Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung (Giesecke+Devrient foundation: collections of bank notes).