The real reason for the 1921 mass issue of linen and silk money was the 700th birthday of Bielefeld . The citizens should get a souvenir piece worthy to be kept. Since monetary devaluation did not allow coins and medals in precious metal, one remembered the splendor of the earlier centuries and chose Bielefeld silk and linen as a substitute for the missing gold and silver. At the same time, the silk jubilee notes were intended to record fresh and memorable historical facts from the difficult times after the First World War in words and pictures. Folk history and enthralling peculiarities were thus combined equally in the Bielefeld notes. Issuing office was the Stadtsparkasse Bielefeld
These Bielefeld city bills on silk and linen caused great sensation and interest at home and abroad. Orders came from America, Java, India, Australia, Sweden, Spain Switzerland and Holland. So the Stadtsparkasse decided to have the bills legally protected (D.G.M.) and to continue their expenditure with always new nominal values and illustrations. By embroidery, borders and lace in different colors numerous variants for collectors were created.

In its own brochures, the Stadtsparkasse offered the bills as "hits of the modern era" and even made the daring claim that Bielefeld with these strange means of payment was improving the German currency.

According to the prospectus, silk notes of 25 marks were initially sold at 100 to 150 marks, in individual cases later 800, 1000 and even 1400 marks were said to have been paid. So it started a veritable speculation in these notes, although the high prices were probably caused by the inflation and the fact that the foreign currencies were calculated by the traders. Undoubtedly, however, the peculiar appearance of the Bielefeld fabric pieces has found many interested customers.