Banknote France 1 Franc - City of Liévin - 31-01-1915 - Serial D

Remarks:

épinglages, plis, salissures, coupures, trous, manques en marge

This municipal bond with a face value of one franc was issued by the City of Liévin, a municipality in the Pas-de-Calais department, on 31 January 1915, in the midst of the First World War. It belongs to series D and stands as a direct testimony to the economic and monetary difficulties faced by French local authorities during the conflict.

During this troubled period, many towns in northern France, often located close to the combat zones, were forced to issue their own means of payment in order to compensate for the shortage of metallic currency. These municipal bonds were accepted in local shops and establishments, temporarily replacing the official currency, which had largely disappeared from circulation due to hoarding and war-related disruptions.

Liévin, situated in a strategically important mining basin, was located in the immediate vicinity of the front. The issuance of this bond in January 1915 illustrates the responsiveness of the municipal authorities in the face of a particularly critical economic situation from the very first months of the conflict. The town was then bearing the full brunt of the consequences of the partial occupation of the region and the destruction caused by the fighting.

From a typological standpoint, this document belongs to the broad family of French emergency issues from the First World War, which are highly sought after by collectors specialising in notaphily. The mention of series D indicates that several series of this bond were issued, reflecting a significant volume of circulation and prolonged use within the local community.

The precise date of 31 January 1915 inscribed on the document is an essential identifying element, allowing this issue to be placed within the administrative and monetary calendar of the municipality, and distinguishes this bond from other issues that may have been produced at different dates during the same period.