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1 Franc - Chambre de Commerce de Bayonne 64
| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce de Bayonne |
|---|---|
| Year | 1916 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 90 × 63 mm |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Green on yellow-ochre paper. The upper portion carries the departmental heading in arched lettering. At centre, the octagonal seal of the Chambre de Commerce de Bayonne is flanked by two civic coats of arms on ribbon-tied laurel branches, one bearing the motto "NUNQUAM POLLUTA" and the other "URBIS PALLADIUM ET GENTIS". A redemption notice appears below within the guilloche border frame. |
| Reverse lettering | DÉPARTEMENT DES BASSES-PYRÉNÉES Ce billet devra être présenté au remboursement avant le 1er Juin 1921 |
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| Comments |
French Chambers of Commerce were authorized to issue emergency small-denomination notes from 1914 onward, filling a void created almost overnight when the public began hoarding coins at the outbreak of war. Bayonne's chamber was among the earlier provincial issuers to act on this authorization. The 1 Franc notes ran through multiple series — the JP reference spanning seven consecutive numbers signals iterative reissues as demand outlasted initial print runs.
The watermark security measure was relatively uncommon among the smaller provincial chambers, many of which issued on plain paper. Its presence here likely reflects the influence of Bayonne's position as a significant commercial hub in the Basque country, with enough trade volume to justify the added production cost.