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1 Franc - Chambre de Commerce de Bayonne 64

Issuer Chambre de Commerce de Bayonne
Year 1915
Type Local banknote
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Obverse description Issued by the Chambre de Commerce de Bayonne for the Département des Basses-Pyrénées, the obverse presents three heraldic vignettes arranged symmetrically: the arms of Bayonne at centre within an octagonal frame inscribed with the chamber's name and bearing a sailing vessel above the motto VIGENT ROE, flanked by two municipal coats of arms with scrolled ribbons bearing the mottoes NUNQUAM POLLUTA and URBIS PALLADIUM ET GENTIS, all framed by laurel branches. The deliberation date of January 16, 1915 governs the issue, with a six-digit serial number and two manuscript signature lines for the Treasurer and the President. No watermark is present on this type, and no printer's name appears.
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Reverse lettering DÉPARTEMENT DES BASSES-PYRÉNÉES
Chambre de Commerce de Bayonne
NUNQUAM POLLUTA
URBIS PALLADIUM ET GENTIS
VIGENT ROE
Ce billet devra être presenté au remboursement avant le 1er Mars 1920
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Comments

French chambers of commerce were authorized to issue emergency small-denomination notes in August 1914, when the outbreak of war triggered an immediate hoarding crisis that drained coined metal from circulation almost overnight. Bayonne's chamber was among the first wave of issuers, and its 1 franc notes filled the gap left by vanishing bronze and silver in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department throughout the war years.

The JP# range covering nine distinct varieties reflects serial letter progressions and minor typographic revisions across printings — not fundamentally different notes, but enough variation to matter to a specialist building a complete run.

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