FRANCE - Un Franc EMERGENCY ISSUE BANKNOTE FROM THE WORLD WAR ONE PERIOD - Issued by Chambre de Commerce de PÉRIGUEUX - This scarce note is dated 1917 and grades in Fine condition -
Périgueux is a
commune in the Dordogne département in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in South West France.
Catalogue Reference:- Pirot #98-23
Chambre de Commerce de PÉRIGUEUX - Un Francdenomination
Size - 107 x 67mm.
This old Emergency Banknote is dated and
issued 5 Novembre 1917, on the reverse.
Serial Number at the top centre on the face is 417332.
The note is in Darkish Blue on a Beige
background and shades of Blue only on the reverse all on White paper, which is
watermarked with the famous Bees motif.
The face of the note has a great design, which shows a frame with 3 Coats of Arms and two historical figures which have a connection to Périgueux -
At the lower right corner is an image of
Pierre Yrieix Daumesnil (1776 - 1832), he was born in Périgueux and became a
French soldier in the armies of Napoleon. He rose to the rank of Brigadier
General. At the Battle of Wagram, where he lost his left leg, which was
replaced by a wooden one from which he earned his nickname 'jambe de bois' or
'wooden leg', in English. He was in charge of the defence of the Château de
Vincennes from 1812, by 1814 it had become a key target, as Vincennes was an
arsenal containing over 50,000 muskets, more than 100 cannon and many tons of
powder, bullets and cannonballs - a tempting prize for the Cossacks of the
Sixth Coalition, marching toward Paris in 1814. However, Daumesnil faced them
down and replied with the famous words 'Je rendrai Vincennes quand on me rendra
ma jambe’ meaning - I shall surrender Vincennes when I get my leg back! (In
French this defiant statement had a polysemic pun that is lost in translation
to English). With only 300 men under his command, Daumesnil resisted all
attacks, until King Louis XVIII of France ordered him to surrender and leave
the fortress, he finally left in November 1815.
At the lower left is an image of Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, born in Bordeaux (1533 - 1592). He was a philosopher, writer and politician. Montaigne was born on the family estate, Château de Montaigne, in a town now called, Saint-Michel-de-Montaigne (where he was laid to rest), close to both Périgueux and Bordeaux.
The denomination as UN FRANC' is in large
type at the upper centre, below this there are the signatures of, from the left
Le Vice-Président, Le Président and Le Trésorier of the Chambre de Commerce. At
the bottom centre is the Coat of Arms of Périgueux with the words ‘CHAMBRE DE
COMMERCE DE PÉRIGUEUX’ in White reversed out of a sold Blue bar.
The reverse has the denomination as '1fr' at the top left and as 'fr1' at the top right in Blue. The main design on the reverse features three images of old buildings in Périgueux, at the centre is an image of the old town featuring the magnificent Cathedrale St-Front which was built on a site on which was a 4th/5th Century church. The Abbey of Saint-Front was built on it in the 11th Century. The Cathedral came into being in 1669. At the left is an image of L’ Église St. Etienne de la Cite and at the right is the ruin, of all that is left of a 2nd Century Roman temple, the Tower of Vesunna that stands is on the outskirts of Périgueux.
Below these is some text indicating that
the note is guaranteed by the Trésor Public and can be exchanged there within 5
years from the date printed - meaning 5 Novembre 1922.
This old Emergency Banknote has seen circulation, it has been folded in four and there are other creases and some light surface dirt around the edges of the note, in particular. The edges and corners do not show much wear and they are pretty sound and straight. There are a four of the usual and normal tiny pinholes present, 2 at the left hand side and 2 at the right, these are often found on French notes of the period.
The note grades Fine and in this condition, this note is quite a hard to find, great example of an interesting emergency banknote.
Good value here.
Low Buy It Now price of just £6.50, with a Make Offer option.
See my other banknotes in my eBay shop with many at Buy it Now Prices - I will usually accept all reasonable offers.
HISTORICAL NOTES:- Billets de Nécessite and other Emergency notes were issued in Europe - predominantly in France, during and after World War One from about 1914 and up to the early 1920's, they were used in towns and regions in place of coins which during wartime became scarce as the metal was needed for industry, their use by and large became redundant by the mid 1920's as the economies began to recover following the privations of Wartime. On most of them there was an issue date with details of the date and time they could be re exchanged for regular currency issued by the Banque de France or other Central Bank.
There are hundreds of different types, they were issued mainly in denominations of 50c, 1 Franc and 2 Francs. They are interesting historic documents. The same issues were often printed on any paper that was to hand, sometimes of poor quality, even lined paper from School exercise books, tissue paper, tracing paper and cardboard were used on occasion.
PINHOLES:- Most French notes of the period inevitably had pinholes because of the quirky way that shops used to deal with banknotes, when a customer paid for an item with notes, a receipt was always given and a copy kept by the retailer to which he stapled or pinned the banknote. The practise had generally died out in France by the 1980's, but it still goes on in some shops in rural areas to this day!!
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PLEASE NOTE ALL ITEMS ARE NOW MAILED FROM MY CURRENT LOCATION IN ITALY, posted the same day that payment is received or the next working day after payment, if made at the weekend. When I can get back, I may post from the UK again. Therefore, delivery may take as long as 2 weeks, this is not my fault, merely the aftermath of the many problems experienced within the International Postal System since March 2020.
Although happily now, most Postal Services are more or less back to normal again, though there still can be some problems with delays to certain countries and destinations.
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