Overview
The Hindenburg “Medallion” definitives carried a simple yet memorable design – the denomination, the legend “Deutsches Reich” and a simple disc bearing a side-view portrait head of the popular field marshal and Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg, based on a medallion crafted by the prolific medal maker Karl Xaver Goetz. The 1933 issue was the second such series, and further sets would be issued in 1934 including a special black-bordered series marking Hindenburg’s death in the August of that year.
These highly distinctive and popular stamps would be valid until the end of the Second World War, and continued to be used up until the cessation of hostilities in May 1945; numerous variations were also issued, and it is possible to create an extensive collection consisting only of Hindenburg medallions, overprints, booklets and booklet strips.
Design and Features
Like the 1932 series, the 1933 Hindenburg Medallions were printed on paper carrying the second waffle (Waffeln) watermark; lower denominations (up to the 40 Rpf. value) were printed in tones of one base colour, while the 50, 60, 80 and 100 Rpf. values featured a grey-black medallion on a coloured background. The simple yet striking design provided encapsulated the personality of Hindenburg, a fiercely proud yet fundamentally decent and unassuming man who was held in high regard by both friends and opponents.
The Hindenburg set from 1933 should not be confused with the very similar series that was issued the following year, which has the Hakenkreuz or swastika watermark; the “waffle” set carries a far higher catalogue value, and it is recommended that premium items be proofed or certified.
3 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 482
Mi. Nr.: 482
Value: 3 Rpf.
Colour: Ockerbraun (ochre brown)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: April 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The ochre brown 3 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a pale brown disc.
4 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 483
Mi. Nr.: 483
Value: 4 Rpf.
Colour: Dunkelpreußischblau (dark Prussian blue)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: May 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The dark Prussian blue 4 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a pale blue disc.
6 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 484
Mi. Nr.: 484
Value: 6 Rpf.
Colour: Schwarzbläulichgrün (black bluish-green)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: April 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The black bluish-green 6 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a pale green disc.
8 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 485
Mi. Nr.: 485
Value: 8 Rpf.
Colour: Lebhaftrotorange (bright red-orange)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: April 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The bright red-orange 8 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a pale orange disc.
10 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 486
Mi. Nr.: 486
Value: 10 Rpf.
Colour: Dunkelsiena (dark sienna)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: May 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The dark sienna 10 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a pale brown disc.
12 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 487
Mi. Nr.: 487
Value: 12 Rpf.
Colour: Dunkelrosarot (dark rose-red)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: April 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The dark rose-red 12 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a pale red disc.
15 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 488
Mi. Nr.: 488
Value: 15 Rpf.
Colour: Lilacarmin (lilac-carmine)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: August 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The lilac-carmine 15 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a pale lilac disc.
20 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 489
Mi. Nr.: 489
Value: 20 Rpf.
Colour: Hellblau (light blue)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: May 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The light blue 20 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a pale blue disc.
30 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 490
Mi. Nr.: 490
Value: 30 Rpf.
Colour: Dunkeloliv (dark olive)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: May 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The dark olive 30 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a pale olive disc.
40 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 491
Mi. Nr.: 491
Value: 40 Rpf.
Colour: Dunkellilapurpur (dark lilac-purple)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: August 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The dark lilac-purple 40 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a light lilac-purple disc.
50 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 492
Mi. Nr.: 492
Value: 50 Rpf.
Colour: Dunkelgrün / Grauschwarz (dark green / grey-black)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: July 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The dark green 50 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a light grey-black disc.
60 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 493
Mi. Nr.: 493
Value: 60 Rpf.
Colour: Dunkelrötlichlila / Grauschwarz (dark reddish-lilac / grey-black)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: May 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The dark reddish-lilac 60 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a light grey-black disc.
80 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 494
Mi. Nr.: 494
Value: 80 Rpf.
Colour: Dunkelkobalt / Grauschwarz (dark cobalt blue / grey-black)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: July 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The dark cobalt blue 80 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a light grey-black disc.
100 Rpf.
Mi. Nr. 495
Mi. Nr.: 495
Value: 100 Rpf.
Colour: Dunkelgelborange / Grauschwarz (dark yellow-orange / grey-black)
Design: Paul von Hindenburg Medallion
Designer/Artist: based on an original medallion by Karl X. Goetz
Watermark: Waffeln (Wz. 2)
Perf: K14:14 1/4
Issue Date: July 1933
Valid Until: May 1945
The dark yellow-orange 100 Rpf. value contains a rendition of Karl Xaver Goetz’s Paul von Hindenburg medallion within a light grey-black disc.
The Subject: Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934)
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg was born on 2nd October 1847 in the Prussian city of Posen (now Poznań in Poland), the son of the aristocratic Robert von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg and wife Luise, the daughter of a doctor.
The Artist: Karl Xaver Goetz (1875-1950)
Text
Hindenburg Medallion by Karl X. Goetz, 1927