Hilfe, bitte? 50-pfennig coins circulating 1934-40?

[villa66]

I was hoping someone might write a short paragraph or two explaining the circulation of the 50-pfennig during the years, say, 1934-40. The aluminum type of 1935 is particularly puzzling to me. It was coined in '35 but not placed in circulation until...? Why did it not replace the nickel (Weimar) 50-pfennig in '35? Too cheap metal for the impression the regime wanted to give? Or actually coined to hold in reserve?

My understanding is that the aluminum-bronze 50-renten/reichspfennig types were withdrawn by 1929 so do not figure in this.

I also understand that the two nickel 50-reichspfennig types were retired in 1940, presumably for melting and war use, which would have left the job to the two aluminum types from then until 1949.

Anyway, would someone(s) be so kind as to talk a little on this subject? (In German or in English it makes no difference; whichever is most convenient.)

v.

[Mynter]

Hello ,

the aluminium 50 pfennig of 1935 was produced in order to be able to withdraw the nickels immediatly in a case of war. It was not put into circulation until 1939.

[villa66]

Hello ,

the aluminium 50 pfennig of 1935 was produced in order to be able to withdraw the nickels immediatly in a case of war. It was not put into circulation until 1939.

Thanks, Mynter, for the reply. I really appreciate it.

But does this actually mean that war was being prepared for as early as 1935? How was the possibility actually couched where the authorization for this coinage is concerned, I wonder--as a defensive war that would be forced on Deutschland by outside powers? Or? And is there any idea in Deutsche numismatic scholarship as to who ordered the coinage of the aluminum 1935 50-pfennig type, or record of its authorization?

v.

[Mynter]

I have to admit that I do not know by heart when historicans believe the nazis began to plan their war, but given the fact that Hitlers politics got more and more agressive after 1935 ( remilitarizion of the Rheinland ) that very date for producing a war subsitute for a standardcoin would not seem a coincidence.
By the way, in 1938 Poland produced a 50 groszy - coin of a lesser alloy to be able to withdraw the nickel 50 groszy quickly if needed.

Any production ordes would have come from the Ministry of Finance.

[villa66]

Thanks again, Mynter, especially for the insight into the 1938 Polish 50-groszy. I knew of the coin and knew that it was intended to replace a coin of better material, but I had never considered the other end of the relationship—that the nickel coin was not merely to be replaced, but reused.

v.