Banknote France 1 Franc - Chamber of Commerce - Granville - 03-10-1916

This 50-centime banknote was issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Granville, France, following the deliberation of October 3, 1916. It is part of a temporary issue of emergency currency, a common practice during the First World War to compensate for the lack of liquidity.

The obverse of the banknote features the inscription "CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE GRANVILLE" at the top, framing the years "1915" and "1920", indicating the period during which the banknote was intended to be in circulation. In the center, the face value "CINQUANTE CENTIMES" is clearly indicated. The signatures of the Treasurer and the President of the Chamber of Commerce also appear on the front, authenticating the banknote. At the bottom is the printer's mention: "Imp. Ch. Valin . Caen .", identifying Imprimerie Charles Valin of Caen as responsible for printing the banknote.

The reverse of the banknote repeats the years "1915" and "1920" and includes an important notice: "Ce billet devra être présenté au remboursement avant le 19 juillet 1920" (This banknote must be presented for reimbursement before July 19, 1920). This statement specifies the deadline by which the banknote could be exchanged for official currency. The printer, Imprimerie Charles Valin of Caen, is also mentioned on the reverse.

The banknote is printed in Latin script, which was the norm for official documents in France at that time. This type of emergency banknote testifies to the particular economic and social conditions of France during the First World War, where local institutions had to issue their own currency to facilitate trade.