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1 Franc - Chambre de Commerce de Béziers [34]
| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce de Béziers |
|---|---|
| Year | 1918 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Franc (1795-1959) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Printed in blue with red overprint, the reverse is enclosed by a double-ruled rectangular frame. The central vignette shows a grapevine branch with large leaves, reflecting the viticultural character of the Béziers region, above which four clusters of grapes are rendered in bold red. The municipal arms of Béziers — a quartered shield with fleurs-de-lis and horizontal bars, surmounted by a mural crown — appear to the upper right, while the denomination 'UN FRANC' is set in large blue capitals across the centre, and the redemption notice, designer credit, and printer's name occupy the lower margin. |
| Reverse lettering | UN FRANC Ce billet devra être présenté au remboursement avant le premier janvier 1922 sauf décision prorogeant ce délai. MAGROU INV. CADENAT FRÈRES |
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| Comments |
The Chambres de Commerce emergency notes of the First World War were authorized by French law in August 1914, when the mobilization-triggered hoarding of coin and small-denomination Banque de France notes caused retail commerce to seize up almost immediately. Béziers, a city built on wine and trade, had a Chamber sufficiently organized to issue its own series within the wartime framework — printed locally by Cadenat Frères rather than sent to a major house. Magrou, a sculptor and medallist by primary training, brought a harder-edged approach to the design than the soft engraving typical of contemporary commercial printers.