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

This emergency banknote is a communal voucher issued by the city of Lille, France, dated October 31, 1917. It falls within the period of emergency issues, common 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 banknote bears two signatures, the nature and functions of the signatories not being specified in the data provided.

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

Emergency banknotes like 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.