Banknote France 50 Cents - Chamber of Commerce - Angoulême - 15-01-1915

The 1 Franc banknote issued by the Angoulême Chamber of Commerce in 1917 represents a form of emergency currency issued during a period of economic constraints. This type of banknote was produced to facilitate local trade in response to a shortage of fiduciary money.

The front of the banknote indicates "5ème série" (5th series) as well as the nominal value "1" and "UN FRANC" (ONE FRANC). It also includes the mention "CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE D'ANGOULÊME" (ANGOULÊME CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) and the name of the printer "F. JAVANAUD ANGOULÊME".

On the back, the banknote bears the inscription "5ème série" (5th series) and the value "1" repeated. It contains the text of the deliberation of April 11, 1917, which specifies that the banknote is guaranteed by a deposit of equal value at the Public Treasury. It is exchangeable in all public funds in the district of the Angoulême Chamber of Commerce and must be presented for reimbursement before January 1, 1922, under penalty of prescription.

The banknote has a watermark representing bees, a security feature designed to prevent counterfeiting.

This banknote testifies to the alternative monetary practices implemented during the First World War to maintain local economic activity in the face of difficulties in supplying official currency. Its state of preservation and its relative rarity make it a collector's item sought after by numismatists interested in French regional economic history.