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1 Franc - Chambres de Commerce d'Arras
| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce d'Arras |
|---|---|
| Year | 1918 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Franc |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| 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 | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | CHAMBRE . DE . COMMERCE . D'ARRAS UN FRANC Le Trésorier Le Président IMP. MALFAIT ET Cie ARRAS A.MAYEUR DEL |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | LA . LOI . PUNIT . LES . CONTREFACTEURS 1 | 1 LES . BILLETS . EN . CIRCULATION . SERONT . ECHANGEABLES . CONTRE . DES . BILLETS . DE . LA . BANQUE . DE . FRANCE . JUSQU'AU . 31 . DECbre 1923 |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Log in to see details |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
Arras was under near-constant German artillery bombardment from 1914 onward, and the town's commercial life was effectively suspended for long stretches. That the Chambre de Commerce managed to issue emergency fractional currency at all in 1918 — printed locally by Malfait et Cie while shells were still falling on the surrounding district — reflects just how completely the normal banking infrastructure had collapsed across northern France.
Le Mayeur de Merprès, the designer credited here, was a Belgian artist who later became better known for his work in Bali. An unusual choice for wartime emergency scrip.