Thale - Harz Notgeld

This note was printed for the town of Thale in the district of Harz. The town is located in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany with a population of almost 13,000.

With a green nature motif depicting evergreens and the Wild Man, the note captures the essence of Thale which sits in the lush, wild pine forest of the Bode Valley near the river Bode. These forests attract a healthy tourist trade as they are ideal for camping and hiking.

Founded some time in the early middle ages in connection with a monastery that stood in the area, it later became known for its rich mines and is still home today to a well established iron, and steel working industry. From 1916, Thale produced a large number of steel helmets and held a monopoly on them during the second world war.

Thale is also noted for the calcium chloride spring of the Hubertusbad, which has been used for medicinal purposes since 1836.

Thale - Harz / 3 Mark Note / 1921 / Lindman 1288g / Mehl 1320.8

Obv: Es grüne die Tanne, es wachse das Erz, Gott schenke uns allen ein fröhliches Herz!

Translation: It greens the firs, it grows the ore, God give us all a merry heart!

Rev: Thalerschein / Thale - Harz 1921

gültig bis 3 Monat nach öffentlicher Aufforderung zur Einlösung!

Translation: valid until 3 months after public request for redemption!

Der Gemeindevorstand and Die kurverwalhung

This note depicts The Wildman of the woods (Wilder Mann) or Savage Man. The Wild man is a universal concept that exists in most cultures and is often depicted as a giant man, either naked or dressed in leaves, sometimes hairy like an animal, often armed with a club. The Wild Man is a common theme in art and literature as a personification of the savagery of nature and is particularly prevalent in the German culture appearing on coins or supporting heraldic crests. The image of the Wild Man is especially prevalent around forested, untamed areas such as Harz.

Such Wild Men appear in fairy tales and myths all over the world and throughout time such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, the story of Merlin, Grimm fairly tales in the story 'de wild man' and other folklores and legends. There is even a city in Upper Harz founded by ore miners called Wildemann after the legend that starts a Wild Man and Woman were spotted living in the area, The man was shot with and arrow and captured. He later died of his wounds and where he died silver was found.

More often represented as legend and myth, used in folk lore as mountain and forest spirits, bestial foes, or the personification of the rigors of untamed nature. Most likely wild men have existed through time, living in the forest, away from civilization that would soon encroach on his territory. The myths and legends are partly based on these people who civilization never reached and have lived outside human society, untamed in nature.

These stories and legends mention not just wild men, but wild women and even wild children such as Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome who were raised by a wolf or Mowgli of the Jungle Book.

Wild Men appear as characters in legends, in fairy tales, and literature. They Appear in works of art from various artist such as Albrecht Dürer, they appear in wall carpets, glass paintings, heraldic art, in celebrations and most of all, they represent mans wild nature, mans relationship with nature, or nature itself.