Austria - Stockerau

It is located in Lower Austria, about 25 km northwest of Vienna. The first settlements began around 791, mainly by woodcutters. It was first mentioned in writing in 1012 under the name "Stoccaerouwe", when the locals mistakenly executed Saint Coloman, an Irish pilgrim. According to legend, his body did not decompose, and the elder bush on which he was hanged sprouted again - this led to his canonization. The parish was founded in 1014. In 1465, Emperor Frederick III granted the settlement fair rights. In 1514, Emperor Maximilian I granted Stockerau the status of a market town, a coat of arms and a seal. The coat of arms depicts a dry tree that is regrowing, referring to the legend of St. Coloman. The town's iconic 88-meter-high church tower, the tallest in Lower Austria, was built between 1722 and 1726. The Austrian railway line connecting Vienna with Stockerau opened in 1841, which triggered significant industrial development: textile, candle, soap, chemical and machine manufacturing factories were established here. Since 1964, the Stockerau Festival has been held every summer, with theatrical performances on the square in front of the church. The town is home to the Lenautheater, named after the Romantic poet Nikolaus Lenau, who lived and worked here in the 19th century. The riverside grove of the Stockerauer Au was declared a nature reserve in 1994. The town is home to numerous museums and historical buildings, such as the Belvedereschlössl Cultural Center, the town hall, and the St. Koloman Monastery.

Stockerau, a major city in Lower Austria, is not one of the classic minting centers like Vienna or Graz. However, during the economic crisis following the First World War, Stockerau also issued its own emergency money (Notgeld) in 1919, which are now considered numismatic rarities. Paper money in denominations of 20 heller and 50 heller was issued. These were often decorated with local motifs in addition to the name of the city and the year (1919). The purpose of the money was to keep the local economy running during times of hyperinflation and money shortages. Emergency money was not only an economic tool, but also an object of artistic and historical value. Today, they are sought-after by collectors, especially if they have survived in good condition.