Germany Weimar Republic year 1923 Postage stamps lot – Billion Mark

Germany Weimar Republic year 1923 Postage stamps lot – Billion Mark MNH

During the peak of the Weimar Republic’s hyperinflation in late 1923, postage rates changed so rapidly that the government could not print new designs fast enough.¹ This resulted in the iconic “Billion Mark” stamps, which are among the most famous examples of economic collapse in history.²

1. Understanding the “Billion” (Milliarden)

In 1923 Germany, the word “Milliarde” refers to what we call a Billion (1,000,000,000) in modern English. If you see a stamp marked “Billion” in German, it actually means a Trillion (1,000,000,000,000).

• Milliarde: 1,000,000,000 (Billion)
• Billion: 1,000,000,000,000 (Trillion)

2. The Two Main Types of “Billion Mark” Stamps

You will typically find two styles in a 1923 lot:

A. The “Basket Lid” (Rosette) Series³

These were new stamps printed specifically for high values. They feature a large numeral in the center surrounded by a circle with a pattern that looks like a woven basket lid.⁴

• Common Values: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 Milliard Mark.
• Colors: 1 Milliarde (Sienna/Brown), 5 Milliarde (Orange/Yellow), 50 Milliarde (Olive/Green).
• Michel Catalog Nos: MiNr. 325–330.

B. The Overprints (Dienstmarke / Numeral)

To save time, the postal service took leftover sheets of lower-value stamps (like the 1922 “Numbers in Circle” or “Workers”) and stamped a new value over them in black or red ink.⁵

• Example: A stamp originally worth 20 Million Mark might have “10 Milliarden” overprinted in bold black ink.⁶

3. Market Value of a “Lot”

Because these stamps were printed in the billions (literally), they are surprisingly common today.

• Mint Condition (MNH): Most individual stamps in a lot are worth between $1.00 and $5.00. A full set of the Rosette series might sell for $15–$25.
• Used Condition: Ironically, postmarked (used) versions are often more valuable than mint ones. Because the inflation moved so fast, many stamps were only “valid” for a few days before the rate increased, making genuine postal cancellations from October/November 1923 quite collectible.⁷
• Rouletted Edges: If the edges look like they were cut with a jagged saw (serrated) rather than standard holes, these are “Rouletted” varieties and carry a significant premium.

Key Identification Table