bavarikon4UPaper Money of the European Colonial Powers
The history of paper money in Europe is intrinsically linked to the colonial past of European states. In the 19th century, these countries expanded their rule into large parts of the world, particularly in Africa and Asia. The local population was subjugated, often by force, dispossessed of their own culture and social order, and commercially exploited. And while there were various types of colonies, there are two features that they all have in common: the enforcement of rule and a system of inequality.
Paper money played an important role in the practice of colonial rule. It not only facilitated financial and commodity trade between the colony and the metropolis, but also communicated colonial thinking, stereotypes, and racism through its imagery.
Paper money dating from colonial contexts is a historically sensitive form of cultural artefact. The Giesecke+Devrient Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung is conscious of this fact and has decided to make these objects available in the name of actively engaging with colonial history. The aim is to promote an open and transparent dialogue among the public and the academic community. This exhibition was conceived to provide a differentiated view of this topic; it serves as a supplement to the collection of the same name and offers further information.
Due to the subject matter and the period in which they were created, the objects feature motifs that may be hurtful to the people concerned. These banknotes are a product of their time and therefore themselves a source of historical knowledge. The Giesecke+Devrient Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung and the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek expressly distance themselves from any racist and defamatory depictions and motifs.
