Banknote Billet France 50 centimes 1915

Remarks:

4 Épinglages, plis de comptage

This 50 centimes note was issued by the Chambres de Commerce de l'Aveyron on 12 March 1915, in the midst of the First World War. It reflects the particular context of the monetary shortage affecting France at that time, which forced many regional chambers of commerce to issue their own emergency notes to compensate for the lack of small change in circulation.

This type of note, commonly known as an emergency note (billet de nécessité), represents a local and temporary solution implemented by departmental commercial authorities. The Chambres de Commerce de l'Aveyron, a department located in the Massif Central region, thus took on an exceptional monetary role, legitimised by the economic and military circumstances of the period.

The note is precisely dated 12 March 1915, placing it within the early months of issuance of these substitute monetary instruments, which proliferated in France between 1914 and 1922. The face value of 50 centimes corresponds to a low-denomination note, intended to facilitate everyday exchanges and local daily transactions.

These regional issues now constitute valuable historical records, documenting both the local economic organisation and the institutional adaptations implemented during the First World War. They are particularly sought after by collectors specialising in French emergency notes and regional numismatics.