Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 7/20/2007

Question
coin is 1 11/16" diameter, 1/8" thick from Province of Westfalen. Head of 60 year old man on front and horse up on 2 rear legs on back............date is 1923
Would like to know of any available history re: this coin. Who is man on front and significance of rearing horse on back.
Also would like to know if it has any significant value as a collectable item.

No, I have no idea where it came from other then it has been in our family for 60 to 80 years.

Thank You

Answer
There was a series of commemorative tokens issues by the province of Westfalen in 1923.  They were not official coinage and sometimes come under the term Not Geld (emergency money).  One source on the internet:

http://sammler.com/coins/coins_faq.htm

gives values for two different types of the 5 Millionen Mark, depending on whether it is on two or three lines.

Here is some more information, plus a picture of your piece from a German site:

http://www.muenzauktion.com/ritter/item.php5?id=9545&PHPSESSID=fbef7f0f9ac0a8d83...

You may want to go to www.ebay.com and do a search for Westfalen Notgeld and other variations to see what is selling there, Jim Lawniczak