Bethel Euro

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The Bethel euro - before the euro changeover, the Bethel mark - is a complementary currency in the von Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel . It entitles residents and employees to shop in Bethel shops. Launched in 1908, the Bethel euro is probably the oldest still existing complementary currency in Germany.

The currency, which is strictly speaking vouchers for a few shops, is issued by the local Sparkasse Bielefeld . For 100 euros you get 105 Bethel euros. For purchases, on the other hand, 1 euro is equal to 1 Bethel euro. An estimated ten to 15 percent of money transactions in Bethel stores are made with Bethel money.

The banknotes are issued in the seven values ​​of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 euros as well as 50 cents, there are no coins. The bills have three different sizes and seven colors. They are decorated with distinctive or historic buildings from Bethel, for example Sarepta , Gilead , the Bethel Gate or the Mamre Patmos School . A total of around 100,000 Bethel euro bills with a total value of just under one million euros are in circulation.

The introduction of Bethel money on September 1, 1908, should result in the money being spent in the company's own facility and not in other businesses. During the inflation of 1923 , the Bethel money had to be constantly reprinted on thin paper. On November 15, 1923, the nominally highest note for goods worth 500 billion marks was issued. In 1948 the Bethel money was withdrawn from circulation and could be exchanged for D-Mark at a ratio of ten to one. From January 1, 1955, the currency was reissued. Two months after the euro changeover, on March 1, 2002, the Bethel mark was also replaced by the Bethel euro.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Shopping with the Bethel Euro - The v. Bodelschwingh institutions in Bielefeld have their own currency. (No longer available online.) October 4, 2009, archived from the original on December 20, 2015 ; Retrieved May 23, 2013 .
  2. ↑ a b Bethel - Euro replaces Bethel - Mark. November 28, 2001, accessed May 23, 2013 .
  3. ^ Bitter, Bärbel: The "Bethel Money" - A diaconal institution with its own currency. In: Der Minden-Ravensberger 72nd year 2000, p. 114ff

Coordinates: 52 ° 0 ′ 28.5 ″  N , 8 ° 31 ′ 16.4 ″  E