5 Mark Darlehenskassenschein

Features

Obverse

Black print on gray and yellow underprint (P-47b).
Underprint includes the Reichsadler (Imperial eagle) coat of arms.

Lettering: 
Darlehnskassenschein
Fünf Mark

Berlin, den 5. August 1914.
Reichsschuldenverwaltung

Wer Darlehnskassenscheine nachmacht oder verfälscht oder
nachgemachte oder verfälschte sich verschafft und in verkehr
bringt, wird mit Zuchthaus nicht unter zwei Jahren bestraft. 

Translation: 
Loan receipt
Five Marks

Berlin, the 5th of August 1914
Reichs Debt Administration

Whosoever copies or falsifies loan receipts or acquires and puts copied or falsified notes into circulation will be punished with no less than two years of prison time. 

Reverse

Blue print on gray underprint (microprint- see image below).
Serial number appears in dark red in the lower left and upper right.
Two seals of the Reichsschuldenverwaltung appear near lower center.
Two crown-adorned Germania appear at lower left and right.

Lettering: 
Darlehnskassenschein

Fünf Mark
5 

Translation: 
Loan receipt

Five Marks 

Watermark

This note is printed on watermarked paper. It shows the note's denomination.

Comments

„Darlehenskassenscheine“ were banknotes issued between 1914 and 1922 by the Reichsschuldenverwaltung (Reich debt administration). They were in use until the hyperinflation in 1923.
These banknotes were not legal tender, however they had to be accepted by all public treasuries. Their value was guaranteed by loans on industrial and agricultural goods. Even without the status as legal tender Darlehenskassenscheine were a de facto currency widely used as a parallel currency to the Goldmark during WWI and the beginning of the Weimar Republic.

The note's reverse exhibits nicely done microprint, undoubtedly as a security feature.  In the blue regions this fine print shows the note's denomination (5), as well as the "M" symbol (Mark) and the Reichsadler (the Imperial Eagle).


The reverse is printed on a gray underprint showing arepeating pattern of "Darlehnskassenschein," and "Fünf-Mark."