Shanghai Currency
Object numberM2017/043:027
TitleShanghai Currency
DescriptionA collection of banknotes from Shanghai. The bank notes were issued around 1939-40, and all have different denominations. Size corresponds to value, with the smallest note worth one cent, to the largest note worth one dollar.
Two of the notes, the one cent and the five cents, are written on, most likely by the Boehms. The one cent note has the date “31.12.40” written on it, and the five cent note it inscribed with “frl. [fraulein] Dorrit Boehm 27/4/1940”.
The Boehm family were Jewish refugees from Breslau, Germany. In 1939, Edgar and Irene Boehm, along with Irene’s mother and brother, Sylvia and Rudi Rothholz, immigrated to Shanghai, China. Six months after arriving, Sylvia died of breast cancer. In 1940, Irene and Edgar’s daughter Dorrit (donor of the collection) was born. The family lived in the Hongkew Ghetto, where Edgar worked as a waiter. After the war in 1946, the family immigrated to Australia.
Two of the notes, the one cent and the five cents, are written on, most likely by the Boehms. The one cent note has the date “31.12.40” written on it, and the five cent note it inscribed with “frl. [fraulein] Dorrit Boehm 27/4/1940”.
The Boehm family were Jewish refugees from Breslau, Germany. In 1939, Edgar and Irene Boehm, along with Irene’s mother and brother, Sylvia and Rudi Rothholz, immigrated to Shanghai, China. Six months after arriving, Sylvia died of breast cancer. In 1940, Irene and Edgar’s daughter Dorrit (donor of the collection) was born. The family lived in the Hongkew Ghetto, where Edgar worked as a waiter. After the war in 1946, the family immigrated to Australia.
Production placeShanghai, China
Production date 1938 - 1940
SubjectShanghai, China
Object namecurrency
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- One cent width: 43.00 mm
length: 74.00 mm
Five cents width: 49.00 mm
length: 86.00 mm
Ten cents width: 53.00 mm
length: 107.00 mm
Twenty Cents width: 57.00 mm
length: 113.00 mm
One Dollar width: 74.00 mm
length: 160.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Dorrit Mahemoff