{"product_id":"east-germany-gdr-ddr-hotelgeld-voucher-hotel-zinnowitz-0-50-1-mark-huschka-89-1a-89-2a","title":"East Germany GDR DDR—Speisentalon—Hotel voucher Zinnowitz Set 0.50+1 Mark","description":"\u003cp\u003eThese \u003cstrong\u003eZinnowitz hotel-money meal vouchers from 1985\u003c\/strong\u003e tell the story of an \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tourism_in_East_Germany\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eEast German tourism system\u003c\/a\u003e built to welcome Western visitors while keeping their spending separate from that of the local population. From the \u003cstrong\u003eend of the 1960s\u003c\/strong\u003e, the GDR sought to provide Western tourists with accommodations of an \u003cstrong\u003einternational standard\u003c\/strong\u003e in selected \u003cstrong\u003efour-star hotels and holiday homes\u003c\/strong\u003e, where exclusive goods were also available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo prevent those goods from being bought up by local residents, special means of payment were created: \u003cstrong\u003evalue vouchers (\u003cem\u003eWertbons\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003emeal vouchers (\u003cem\u003eSpeisetalons\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/strong\u003e. Issuing this \u003cstrong\u003ehotel money (\u003cem\u003eHotelgeld\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/strong\u003e also made it possible to secure \u003cstrong\u003eWestern hard currency quickly and easily\u003c\/strong\u003e. A modest meal coupon was therefore part of a much larger economic strategy: attracting foreign visitors, controlling access to exclusive goods, and obtaining hard currency through tourism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIssued by the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reiseb%C3%BCro_der_DDR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReisebüro der DDR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (GDR Travel Agency), these vouchers were valid at \u003cstrong\u003efood-service establishments and hotels in the city of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zinnowitz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eZinnowitz\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. Each coupon served as a \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSpeisetalon\u003c\/em\u003e, or food stamp \/ meal voucher\u003c\/strong\u003e, redeemable for hotel dining services. Its reverse listed specific \u003cstrong\u003ecafés, a restaurant, and a milk bar\u003c\/strong\u003e where it was accepted as payment. The fronts feature the \u003cstrong\u003eReisebüro der DDR symbol\u003c\/strong\u003e, with a \u003cstrong\u003eseahorse on the 0.50 Mark voucher\u003c\/strong\u003e and a \u003cstrong\u003efish on the 1 Mark voucher\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis listing brings together the \u003cstrong\u003e0.50 Mark and 1 Mark vouchers\u003c\/strong\u003e, cataloged as \u003cstrong\u003eHuschka HG 89.1a and HG 89.2a\u003c\/strong\u003e. Such vouchers are \u003cstrong\u003eheavily sought after today by collectors of Cold War history, East German memorabilia, and regional scrip (\u003cem\u003enotgeld\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/strong\u003e: small survivors of a system in which even a hotel meal reflected the division between East and West.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFront\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e0.50 Mark decoration:\u003c\/strong\u003e A seahorse and the symbol of the Reisebüro der DDR.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1 Mark decoration:\u003c\/strong\u003e A fish in an underwater scene and the symbol of the Reisebüro der DDR.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAcceptance locations:\u003c\/strong\u003e Specific cafés, a restaurant, and a milk bar where the vouchers were accepted as payment, with opening hours and descriptions of their offerings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eComplete Voucher Text in English\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe venue names are retained as proper names. The serial numbers below belong to the photographed examples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e0.50 Mark — Front\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGDR Travel Agency\u003cbr\u003eZinnowitz Hotels\u003cbr\u003eMeal voucher\u003cbr\u003e0.50 MARK\u003cbr\u003eThis voucher is accepted as payment for food and beverages at our establishments.\u003cbr\u003eNo. 187701\u003cbr\u003e1985\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e1 Mark — Front\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGDR Travel Agency\u003cbr\u003eZinnowitz Hotels\u003cbr\u003eMeal voucher\u003cbr\u003e1\u003cbr\u003eONE MARK\u003cbr\u003eThis voucher is accepted as payment for food and beverages at our establishments.\u003cbr\u003e1985\u003cbr\u003eNo. 063918\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eReverse — Same Text on Both Vouchers\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe invite you to visit the following food-service establishments:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRestaurant “Otto Schmirgal,” from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.\u003cbr\u003eWine bar, rustic dining room, and specialty corner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMilk bar and Café “Otto Schmirgal,” from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCafé “Philipp Müller” in the hotel\u003cbr\u003eCoffee and ice cream specialties, snacks\u003cbr\u003e2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCafé “Dimitroff” in the hotel\u003cbr\u003eCoffee and ice cream specialties, snacks, and hunting-themed room\u003cbr\u003e2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrinter’s footer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The small print appears to read “II 1 3 Mintal-Druck Zinnowitz CmG 061 85.” “Druck” means printing; the remaining production codes are retained rather than translated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Two denominations, 0.50 Mark and 1 Mark.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hotel money (\u003cem\u003eHotelgeld\u003c\/em\u003e), serving as a \u003cem\u003eSpeisetalon\u003c\/em\u003e, or food stamp \/ meal voucher, redeemable for hotel dining services.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reisebüro der DDR (GDR Travel Agency).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eValidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Food-service establishments and hotels in Zinnowitz.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYear issued:\u003c\/strong\u003e Described as in or around 1985; both photographed vouchers bear the printed year 1985.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCatalog references:\u003c\/strong\u003e Huschka HG 89.1a and HG 89.2a.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize of the 0.50 Mark note:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.5 × 6 cm (105 × 60 mm).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCatalog and Source Reference\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthoritative catalog:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rbcurrency.com\/en\/p\/ersatzgeld-und-geldaehnliche-belege-in-der-ddr-henning-huschka-neuauflage-2024\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Ersatzgeld und Geldähnliche Belege in der DDR\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eErsatzgeld und Geldähnliche Belege in der DDR\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (\u003cem\u003eSubstitute Money and Money-like Documents in the GDR\u003c\/em\u003e), authored by \u003cstrong\u003eRudolf Huschka\u003c\/strong\u003e, the authoritative catalog for GDR \u003cem\u003eHotelgeld\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSource:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.papierania.de\/homepage_auktion_5\/auktion5_los_650_699.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePapierania, Auction 5 catalog, lots 650–699 (PDF)\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOwn this two-voucher piece of Cold War history: \u003cstrong\u003ea seahorse, a fish, hotel dining, and the pursuit of Western hard currency\u003c\/strong\u003e, all captured in the everyday paper of East German tourism.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53089205485879,"sku":"DD-EXO-ZINN-SETOF2","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/Set_0.50M-1M-o.jpg?v=1791071757","url":"https:\/\/worldmoneystore.com\/products\/east-germany-gdr-ddr-hotelgeld-voucher-hotel-zinnowitz-0-50-1-mark-huschka-89-1a-89-2a","provider":"World Money Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}