Catalog
1 Frangë / Franc
| Issuer | Shqipërië Vetqeveritare (Albanian Self-Government, Korçë) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1917 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Davier |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Plain rose-brown underprint composed of a repetitive geometric wave pattern covering the entire field, with the bilingual denomination inscription 'UN FRANC' in French and 'NJË FRANGË' in Albanian printed in large bold letterpress at centre, separated by the numeral '1'. A faint control stamp impression is visible at upper right. |
| Reverse lettering | UN FRANC 1 NJË FRANGË |
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| Comments |
The Korçë franc notes of 1917 were issued under the short-lived French-administered autonomous zone around Korçë — a pocket of Albanian territory administered by France after its forces occupied the region in late 1916 to prevent Serbian and Greek expansion. The issuing authority, the "Albanian Self-Government," was largely a French construct, and the notes circulated alongside French military currency in the region.
Printed locally by Vangheli, a Korçë press rather than a metropolitan French facility, the production quality reflects the limitations of wartime provincial printing. Davier, credited as both designer and engraver, is otherwise obscure — likely a local or regional commercial artist rather than a professional banknote engraver.
The zone was dissolved in 1920 when French forces withdrew.