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1 Franc - Chambre de Commerce de Béziers 34
| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce de Béziers |
|---|---|
| Year | 1915 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Franc (1795-1959) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Green and cream note enclosed within a decorative wave-pattern border in dark brown. A large teal guilloche vignette at centre depicts a silhouette of a medieval fortified tower or gateway, set against a fine letterpress underprint repeating the issuer's name across the field. The denomination UN FRANC is printed in bold black capitals across the centre, with the issuing authority CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE BÉZIERS and the authorising deliberation date at the top, signature lines for the Trésorier and the Président at lower left and right respectively, and the redeemability clause at the foot. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Watermark in the paper substrate; specific watermark device not confirmed. |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
The Béziers Chamber of Commerce began issuing emergency small-denomination notes in 1915 to compensate for the near-total disappearance of coin from circulation — a crisis that hit every corner of France once wartime hoarding and metal requisitioning stripped the market of small change. Hundreds of French chambers of commerce did the same, but the Béziers series stands out for its designer: Joseph Magrou was a locally prominent sculptor and medallist, which is why the engraving quality on these notes exceeds what most provincial emergency issues managed.
Cadenat Frères, based in Montpellier, handled printing for numerous Languedoc emergency issuers during this period. The JP#27 reference covers five catalogue numbers for this single type, reflecting the known signature and date variants rather than distinct design changes.