Banknote Billet France 50 centimes 1915

Remarks:

Plis de comptage

This 50 centimes note was issued by the Chambre de Commerce de Cahors on 1st January 1915, in the midst of the First World War. At that time, the shortage of metallic currency, due in particular to hoarding and the considerable demands of the war effort, forced many French chambers of commerce to issue their own emergency notes to make up for the lack of currency in circulation. These local issues, although only legal tender within their respective geographical areas, played an essential role in maintaining everyday commercial transactions.

This note belongs to series F, which allows its identification and classification within the full range of issues produced by this chamber of commerce. The city of Cahors, prefecture of the Lot department, had an active chamber of commerce that took on its responsibilities in the face of this monetary crisis by producing small-denomination notes intended to facilitate everyday transactions.

Emergency notes issued during this period are today particularly significant historical and numismatic testimonies. They reflect the economic and monetary constraints imposed by the wartime context, and illustrate the adaptability of French local institutions in the face of a crisis situation. Each regional issue has its own characteristics, both from a graphic and typographic point of view, making them sought-after collectibles among specialists in French numismatics of the early 20th century.

The issue date of 1st January 1915 places this note among the very first wartime issues, occurring in the first months following the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Its state of preservation as well as its belonging to a specific series are essential elements for its evaluation and classification in specialised catalogues devoted to French emergency notes.