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1 Franc Spa
| Issuer | City of Spa (Province of Liège) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1914-1916 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Paper |
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| Obverse description | The crowned municipal coat of arms of the City of Spa, flanked by two lions as supporters, is printed in the centre; the arms may appear in varying colours across different issues. The denomination is indicated in the upper left, with the serial number printed in black at centre. All legends, the serial number, and the issuing authority text are letterpress-printed in black. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse bears a single circular municipal validation stamp applied in violet ink, reading ADMINISTRATION COMMUNALE DE SPA around the circumference with the city's heraldic device at centre. The stamp appears slightly off-centre on the otherwise plain cream paper stock. |
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| Comments |
Spa was among the first Belgian municipalities to issue its own emergency paper money after the German invasion in August 1914 severed normal banking operations. These local bons de caisse were not coordinated by any central authority — each commune acted independently, which is why the typography, format, and issuing periods vary so sharply from town to town.
The Engel-Lievens press was a local commercial printer, not a security printer, and it shows: the notes lack intaglio work, watermarks, or serial numbering sophisticated enough to deter forgery. Municipal trust, not technical security, kept them in local use.