Banknote France 1 Franc - Chambre de commerce -Montluçon-Gannat - 28-04-1916 - Série B

This 1 franc emergency banknote was issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Montluçon-Gannat, with an authorization date of April 28, 1916. It belongs to series B and was designed to address the shortage of currency during the First World War.

The note bears a statement indicating that it is exchangeable for banknotes from the Bank of France, which highlights its role as a local monetary substitute in times of crisis. The Héron & Boucher printing company was responsible for its production.

This type of banknote, known as an emergency banknote, was a temporary solution adopted by various local institutions to facilitate economic transactions in the absence of sufficient official currency. Its issuance was governed by specific authorizations, as evidenced by the date mentioned on the banknote.

The existence of this banknote testifies to the particular economic and social context of the First World War, where shortages of precious metals led to the creation of alternative currencies. The Chamber of Commerce of Montluçon-Gannat, as the issuer, played a crucial role in maintaining local economic activity.

The face value of this banknote is 1 franc, a modest but significant sum at the time, and it represents a part of local economic history during a period of major conflict.