San Marino Banknotes question

Hi,

I'm interested in learning about banknotes of small countries and I came to San Marino.

Why are the San Marino “Miniassegno” classed as banknotes in Numista? they look like cheques to me and that's what the word “assegno” means. Cassa di Risparmio della Repubblica di San Marino is a commercial savings bank, as far as I know.

Here's an example:

N#202506

Thanks!

These were emergency issues during the time of shortage of coins in Italy. As these were official issues, it can be considered as currency (banknote) just like those Zimbabwe hyperinflation banknotes (bearer cheques) issued back in the mid 2000s.😁

Thank you for your answer.

I guess it makes sense, but how could they be official if they were issued by a commercial savings bank? was the bank state owned at that time?

It does matter as long as the Government or the central bank approves this, just like those commercial banks in Hong Kong, Macau, Scotland and Northern Ireland all issuing banknotes for circulation. 

Is it documented somewhere that these banknotes were officially approved?

ahkai

These were emergency issues during the time of shortage of coins in Italy.

Maybe they should be made into “Emergency banknotes” instead of “Local banknotes”, as I'm assuming the miniassegno were used all over Italy (including Vatican City and San Marino)

link to description: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniassegno

Maybe the referee can chime in, as a few are already marked as emergency banknote.

@Ramons78 ?

It states that it can only be on circulation in the Republic of San Marino, so I guess it makes sense for it to be local.

I followed the Wikipedia link you shared to Notgeld (which it's compared to miniassegni) and it states “Notgeld (German for 'emergency money' or 'necessity money') is money issued by an institution in a time of economic or political crisis. The issuing institution is usually one without official sanction from the central government.”, so it sounds like they're not officially approved?

I doubt you will find any reading materials for these issues. You are talking about 50 years ago, and in those good old days, we did not have the Internet then, and even photocopying was not even popular either. The best bet I can think of is to see if you can find any local banknotes catalogue as they may give you some info regarding these issues. 

I do have one for the 200 lira in UNC condition and I paid A$4.00 back in March 2000. I bought this because I need to fill the gap for this tiny nation, and I would have bought others too if it was available then.

Good luck and happy hunting.

I totally agree with ahkai, these notes, both Italian Miniassegni or ones from San Marino, should be considered as Emergency issue.

During period 1975-1977 in Italy and all Countries using Italian Lira (San Marino and Vatican city) there was shortage of metal for coins, then saving banks were used officially to put in circulation small amount of checks.

Best regards.

Fabrizio

Thank you, both for the information, it's really interesting. @Ramons78 is there any literature around it?

Hi Ivanks,

for Italy You can find several information in Internet, but about San Marino I think it's quite difficult.

Here's a catalog:

https://en.numista.com/literature/volume.php?id=5559

Ramons78

I totally agree with ahkai, these notes, both Italian Miniassegni or ones from San Marino, should be considered as Emergency issue.

During period 1975-1977 in Italy and all Countries using Italian Lira (San Marino and Vatican city) there was shortage of metal for coins, then saving banks were used officially to put in circulation small amount of checks.

 

Then all of these should be moved to "emergency banknotes":
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?r=&st=84&cat=y&im1=&im2=&ru=&ie=&ca=3&no=&v=&a=&dg=&i=&b=&m=&f=&t=&t2=&w=&mt=&u=&g=&se=4958&c=&wi=&sw=

Maybe we can ask @Numista Robot or @Jarcek for assistance 😄

BramVB

Ramons78

I totally agree with ahkai, these notes, both Italian Miniassegni or ones from San Marino, should be considered as Emergency issue.

During period 1975-1977 in Italy and all Countries using Italian Lira (San Marino and Vatican city) there was shortage of metal for coins, then saving banks were used officially to put in circulation small amount of checks.

 

Then all of these should be moved to "emergency banknotes":
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?r=&st=84&cat=y&im1=&im2=&ru=&ie=&ca=3&no=&v=&a=&dg=&i=&b=&m=&f=&t=&t2=&w=&mt=&u=&g=&se=4958&c=&wi=&sw=

 

Maybe we can ask @Numista Robot or @Jarcek for assistance 😄

Yes, you can. Robot is more for reccuring tasks that should be checked every day.

I have my own set of semi-robots, which will do this :)

It is done :)

Thanks Jarcek, maybe we can now consider to abolish the "Italian Notgeld" as Issuer, as all notes are getting to the appropriate category?

@Ramons78 I assume these notes also belong to the miniassegno? If so they need to be added to the series and moved to emergency banknotes as well.
Local banknotes – Numista

Hi BramVB,

these notes: Local banknotes – Numista are in fact emergency issues.

Anyway I would not abolish the Notgeld category since there are few note that should be identified in this category. 

I'll try to update them at soonest.

Best regards.

Hello!

to @Ivanks, for more information regarding San Marino I found only:

“La cartamoneta mai nata di San Marino - San Marino's unborn Banknote”

Nomisma Editions 2022

ISBN  978-88-943358-6-6

(I'm going to add it to the Literature section)

Spoiler alert! 😀

Miniassegni were the only paper money existed in San Marino.

Talking about type: I agree with @Ramons78. As Italy's miniassegni, also San Marino's miniassegni should be considered as emergency issue (instead of local banknote). They circulated throughout the state, not just in the cities/towns of the issuing banks. 

So I'm going to change it in San Marino issues.

Best regards.