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Mautern, Niederösterreich

The big iron bridge across the Danube between Mautern and Krems is famous, at least in Lower Austria.  Both series of notes come in 10, 20, and 50 Heller.  There are several varieties of the first series, including misspelling "Gutschein" as "Hutschein," which increases the note's value exponentially.  The second series comes in six varieties, and there are cases of "Gutschein" being spelled "Glutschein."

Poetry at the upper reverse side of second issues from Mautern.

My favourite poem is on the first issue.  It translates something like "No meat, no bread, no wine, no beer!  We have only paper.  I'm finding myself going crazy,  printing so many [of these] issues."  A funny yet sad commentary on the poor living conditions in post-war Austria.

GWS, 5/03 [rev. 3/05]