The Chambres de Commerce emergency issues of the First World War period arose from a genuine coin shortage that hit France hard by 1915 — small bronze and nickel denominations vanished from circulation almost immediately as metal was diverted to the war effort. The Gers chamber, based in Auch, was among dozens of regional bodies authorized to fill the gap with locally issued paper nécessité.
JP#15-39/42 covers four catalogue varieties within this 10 centimes type, distinguished by serial letter and color variants — a detail that trips up collectors who acquire one and assume they have the series covered.
The Chambres de Commerce emergency issues of the First World War period arose from a genuine coin shortage that hit France hard by 1915 — small bronze and nickel denominations vanished from circulation almost immediately as metal was diverted to the war effort. The Gers chamber, based in Auch, was among dozens of regional bodies authorized to fill the gap with locally issued paper nécessité.
JP#15-39/42 covers four catalogue varieties within this 10 centimes type, distinguished by serial letter and color variants — a detail that trips up collectors who acquire one and assume they have the series covered.