25 mark notgeld uit Duitsland, Höhr, Coblenz,1921 1921

This 25 mark Notgeld from Höhr, Coblenz, was made in Germany in 1921 by A. Kamp. It looks like it was pressed from coal dust or clay. The raised images and text give it a playful, almost crude feel, which really hits home the sense of desperation following the First World War when it was made. The surface has a gritty texture; it's easy to imagine the feeling of holding it. I love the way the artist uses the material to create a sense of the time. The clovers and text are pressed with a deep relief that makes them stand out against the dark, matte background. You can almost feel the artist's hand in the making of each coin, pressing the images and text into the soft material. There is something very Dada about this piece; it reminds me of Kurt Schwitters' collages, made from the scraps of everyday life. The coin is a small but powerful reminder of a time of great upheaval and uncertainty, but also of the resilience and creativity of the human spirit.