Many coin and also stamp collectors are aware of Stamp Money used in the US Civil War. Stamps were encased in brass shells, with mica covering the stamp. The brass backs bore an embossed advertising text. These sell for hundreds and often thousands of dollars.

At the end of World War One, similar issued appeared in many European countries, altho chiefly Germany, France, Austria, Denmark and Italy. They feature a stamp side, covered in thin celluloid, and an advertising side. In Austria, a good dozen merchants issued pieces with embossed metal advertising backs. They come in both matte grey and bright nickel-plated finishes. They were produced by a company "Reklame-Geld", whose own issue is the only scarce metal issue. All were made in 1920 and one piece is dated. Different Heller and Kronen stamps were used, and different colored paper and foil backings were inserted behind the stamp. The pieces are usually Uncirculated. A nice way to collect would be:

1) each issuer, in each of the two metal finishes;

2) each stamp value;

3) each stamp background.

In addition, there are scarcer issues made of colorful celluloid, like many German issues. The advertising is printed, not embossed, and there are pictorial types. My favorite has a picture of a performing strongman. Among the metal issues, I like those of the  optometrist and the private detective.

Prices are likely to range from $20 to $200, depending on rarity and appeal. Most are from Vienna. Condition matters little and normally they come nice. They don't appear all that much on eBay, but coin and token dealers sell them under NOTGELD. Stamp collectors don't like them because the stamps themselves are ordinary.

--Paul Bosco (ebay i.d.:  paulbosco)