POLAND, German Occupation. Łódź (Litzmannstadt) Ghetto, 1940-1944. 10 Mark 1943 (Elektron AM 503 (Magnesium Alloy), 28 mm, 1.16 g, 12 h), off center and capped die mint error. DER AELTESTE DER JUDEN / •IN LITZMANNSTADT• around value 10 overlapped by banner QUITTUNG ÜBER; below, MARK. Rev. GETTO / 1943 Star of David surrounded by doubled-lined circle interrupted by six miniature stars of David. Campbell 4753a. Franquinet/Hammer/Schoenawa pp. 53 and 139. Jaeger L4a. KM (Poland) Tn3a. Very rare with this mint error. With certificate of authenticity by G. Franquinet. Flan crack and light deposits, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.



The unusual alloy known as Elektron AM 503 - a magnesium-based material containing about 2-3% manganese, with aluminum and zinc present in smaller amounts - soon gave rise to a number of legends. One story, still repeated today, claims that the metal was recovered from crashed aircraft, but there is no evidence to support this.

In reality, it was supplied by twelve different factories across the German Empire, although the alloy itself remained in short supply. Because of their high magnesium content, the coins burn readily, and eyewitnesses later recalled that, after the liberation of the ghetto, some of the few survivors used them to start fires (cf. G. Franquinet / P. Hammer / L. Schoenawa: Litzmannstadt. Ein Kapitel Deutscher Geldgeschichte, Regenstauf 2010, p. 116).