Billet France 1 franc 1917 XF

This 50 centimes note was issued by the Chambre de Commerce de Nevers in 1917, in the context of the First World War, a period during which many French chambers of commerce were authorised to issue emergency notes in order to compensate for the shortage of metallic currency. These local issues, known as emergency currency, played an essential role in regional fiduciary circulation.

This note belongs to the 2nd series, referenced under number 170. It bears the mention "Annulé" (Cancelled), indicating that it was officially withdrawn from circulation and invalidated by the issuing authority, the Chambre de Commerce de Nevers. This cancellation mark was generally applied by perforation, overprint or stamp, in order to prevent any fraudulent reuse of the note after its withdrawal from monetary circulation.

The Chambre de Commerce de Nevers, a representative institution of the economic and commercial circles of the city of Nevers and its surrounding region, in the department of Nièvre, was empowered to guarantee the value of these notes and to ensure their reimbursement to holders. These local notes circulated mainly within the territory of competence of the issuing chamber.

The face value of 50 centimes corresponds to an intermediate denomination, intended to facilitate daily transactions in the absence of metal coins, the production of which was severely disrupted by the demands of the war economy. These regional emergency notes today constitute precious historical testimonies of local economic organisation in times of conflict.

 

 

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