Banknote France 5 Cents - City of Lille - Bon communal - 31-10-1917

This emergency note is a communal voucher issued by the city of Lille, in France, dated October 31, 1917. It falls within the period of emergency issues, frequent during the First World War, between 1914 and 1918, when towns and cities had to compensate for the lack of official currency.

The face value of this voucher is 5 centimes. It was issued in the Nord department (59), specifically for the municipality of Lille. The note bears two signatures, the nature and functions of the signatories are not specified in the data provided.

This type of communal note was used to facilitate local transactions during periods of currency shortage, ensuring the continuity of economic exchanges within the city. The reference for this specimen is JP.59-1630, which allows it to be located in specialized numismatic catalogs and inventories.

Emergency notes such as this one testify to the particular economic and social conditions of the time, reflecting the adaptations put in place by local authorities to manage the financial and monetary difficulties caused by the world conflict. Today, they are sought-after collectibles for their historical value and rarity.