Three coins issued by the Judenrat in the Łódź Ghetto and used by the ghetto residents, 1943.
Coins of different values: 10 marks, 25 marks, 100 marks. The coins of the Łódź (Litzmannstadt) Ghetto were minted by the Judenrat for internal use of the Jews living there.
One way the Nazis extorted the Jews of the ghetto was by printing "ghetto money", Jews of the Łódź Ghetto were required to exchange any money they had for ghetto money, according to exchange rates set by the Germans. Ghetto money was the sole valid monetary means in the ghetto. Another goal of ghetto money was to prevent any possibility of smuggling, as ghetto money had no value outside the ghetto borders.
Ghetto money was printed in an outside print shop under German supervision. From December 1942, Judenrat head Rumkowski was authorized to mint coins made of magnesium and aluminum in the ghetto's metal works. Rumkowski oversaw the money circulation. Trade and payment between the ghetto and outside world was such that Jews requested goods which were supplied in exchange for Reichsmarks, foreign currency, gold, silver, goods and labor services.
Overall good condition.
