*Emergency Money*

The author is Tom Wilkinson, and the subtitle is Notgeld in the Image Economy of the German Inflation, 1914-1923.  Notgeld, or emergency money, typically was privately issued to make up for the deficiencies of government money during that period.

It is hard to think of a book that is more “for me.”  The book covers history, monetary economics, private currency issuance, and the artistic renderings put on the private notes.  You can see plenty of desperation in those visuals, and clearly the 19th century seems like a long time ago.  I read this one right away upon arrival.

You can buy it here.  Here is a good short piece on the art.