French chambers of commerce were authorized to issue emergency small-denomination notes during and after the First World War to compensate for the near-total disappearance of coin from circulation. Dunkerque's chamber was among dozens that took up this privilege, with Imprimerie Chaix — a Paris house better known for railway timetables and posters — producing the physical notes. Léon Leclerc's design credit is unusually specific for a provincial emergency issue; most such commissions went uncredited entirely.
The JP reference covering four catalog numbers against a single design suggests multiple date or series variants share the same basic plate.
French chambers of commerce were authorized to issue emergency small-denomination notes during and after the First World War to compensate for the near-total disappearance of coin from circulation. Dunkerque's chamber was among dozens that took up this privilege, with Imprimerie Chaix — a Paris house better known for railway timetables and posters — producing the physical notes. Léon Leclerc's design credit is unusually specific for a provincial emergency issue; most such commissions went uncredited entirely.
The JP reference covering four catalog numbers against a single design suggests multiple date or series variants share the same basic plate.