Banknote France 1 Free Lunch - given by de Rothschild brothers - 10-06-1917

Remarks:

plis, salissures, petit choc en marge

This 1 Free Meal token was issued in France in 1917, in the midst of the First World War, during a period marked by profound economic and social hardships affecting the French civilian population.

The token bears the inscription "given by MM. de Rothschild frères", referring to the famous banking family of the Rothschilds, whose French house, founded in the early 19th century, distinguished itself on several occasions through philanthropic actions, particularly during times of crisis. This document bears witness to a charitable initiative organised by this family for the benefit of the most destitute populations during the conflict.

The precise date of 10 June 1917 is inscribed on the token, making it a precisely dated document, conferring upon this piece of emergency paper currency or welfare voucher a particularly identifiable historical character. This type of token fell into the category of social assistance vouchers issued by private, religious or philanthropic entities in order to compensate for supply shortages and support vulnerable populations in wartime.

From a numismatic standpoint, this document belongs to the broad family of emergency notes and charity tokens, which constitute an often overlooked yet rich chapter of French monetary and social history. These items, whether made of paper, cardboard or metal, circulated locally and temporarily, responding to immediate and specific needs.

The rarity of such documents, linked to their ephemeral nature and their daily practical use, makes them precious testimonies for collectors specialising in emergency numismatics, the social and economic history of the First World War, as well as the history of the great French banking families.