Pieniądz zastępczy. Darłowo

Although often marginalized in traditional numismatic studies, substitute currency represents a fascinating testimony to local history, economic crises, and human ingenuity. In my case, however, it was not the beginning of my numismatic journey, but rather a later and more conscious stage of it.

My interest in coins emerged much earlier, during childhood, when my father introduced me to numismatics in the simplest way possible. These were not rare or highly collectible specimens, but ordinary circulation coins issued as commemorative editions. Each of them attracted attention through its unique design, the event it commemorated, or the person it honored, teaching me that money can serve as a carrier of history and symbolism, not merely as a means of payment.

Over time, this early experience evolved into broader collecting interests. Alongside numismatics, I became fascinated by philately and deltiology, disciplines which, much like coins, document reality through tangible objects that circulate among people. It was only in adulthood, however, that I encountered substitute currency and discovered in it a particularly intriguing field of study, one that is far less obvious, yet remarkably rich in historical and cultural insight.

Substitute currency most often emerged during periods of transition, scarcity, or the reorganization of economic systems, serving as a response to the specific needs of local communities. Each specimen is not only a collectible object but also a historical document, a testament to resourcefulness and adaptation under extraordinary circumstances. In this sense, it belongs to a broader field of research that combines economic, social, and cultural history.

This book is an attempt to view substitute currency as an important element of heritage rather than merely a numismatic curiosity. It is rooted both in many years of collecting passion and in a growing interest in subjects that, although discovered later in life, offer a deeper understanding of the significance of money in its most local and human dimension.