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1 Franc - Chambre de commerce d'Alais [Alès, 30]
| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce d'Alais |
|---|---|
| Year | 1915-1916 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Franc |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is framed by a decorative floral and guilloche border in brown on a plain paper ground. A panoramic vignette of the town of Alais occupies the central band, with the inscription CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE D'ALAIS at the top and the large-denomination text UN FRANC in bold letterpress at centre. At lower left, SÉRIE C is printed within a rectangular cartouche, and the serial number appears at lower right. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
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| Protection type | Watermark |
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| Comments |
Alais — now spelled Alès — was the commercial hub of the Gard's coal basin, and its chamber of commerce was among the first wave of provincial bodies to issue emergency paper during the 1914–1918 small-change crisis, when hoarding stripped France of its bronze and silver coinage almost overnight. The notes were printed locally by J. Brabo, an Alais firm, rather than routed through the larger Parisian houses that handled many similar issues — keeping production entirely within the issuing town, which was unusual enough to be worth noting.
Albert Éloy-Vincent, a regional figure better known for decorative and commercial graphics, handled the design. The JP reference covers four distinct variants across the 1915–1916 window, differentiated by issue date and series markings.