The hundreds of thousands of wounded and dead during the years of the First World War were not only a one-time weakening of the army, but also a permanent strain on the social system, which had to take care of the severely wounded or provide for survivors. In addition to state funding, public collections were also intended to serve this purpose.
The intensity with which the funds were collected is evidenced by the presentation of a paper money box, which was intended to be placed in the home. When the box was filled, it was to be broken open and the proceeds sent to the War Welfare Office in Vienna by means of a deposit slip inside. The proceeds were intended for soldiers in the field, their families, widows, orphans and the wounded.
The simple paper money box is stylized in the form of a cup or a sign post. The paper is metallic in colour, a simple eyelet on one side with an aesthetic function, a sign on the other side with the inscription "Collection in the family circle only" and instructions for use.