Billet France 1 franc 1916 XF

This emergency note with a face value of 1 franc was issued by the Annecy Chamber of Commerce on 14 March 1916, in the midst of the First World War. It belongs to series 167.

During the conflict of 1914-1918, the shortage of metallic currency led to a gradual disappearance of coins in circulation, hoarded by the population or melted down for the needs of the war. Faced with this situation, many French Chambers of Commerce were authorised to issue necessity notes in order to compensate for this lack of currency and to maintain local commercial exchanges. The Annecy Chamber of Commerce, an institution representing the economic interests of the department of Haute-Savoie, was thus one of the issuing bodies of this type of supplementary paper currency.

These necessity notes, often referred to as local paper currency or emergency vouchers, were designed to circulate exclusively within a defined geographical area and represented a pragmatic response to the economic difficulties caused by the war. They are today regarded as direct witnesses to the economic and social history of France during this troubled period.

From a numismatic point of view, this note is of particular interest due to its precise dating of 14 March 1916 and the clear identification of its series 167, elements allowing rigorous classification within the issues of the Annecy Chamber of Commerce. This type of fiduciary document is sought after by collectors specialising in notaphily, the discipline devoted to the study and collection of banknotes and necessity notes. Its state of preservation is a determining factor in assessing its value for enthusiasts of French regional paper money from the Great War.

 

 

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