Catalog
2 Francs Oran
| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce d'Oran |
|---|---|
| Year | 1915 |
| Type | Local banknote |
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| Obverse description | The obverse carries three allegorical vignettes in a letterpress composition: at left, an Algerian woman bearing a jar; at centre, a seated Hercules figure; and at right, a peasant harnessing two oxen. The denomination "2fr" appears in the upper corners, with signature lines for the President and Treasurer below the central vignette. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Chambre de Commerce d'Oran Deux Francs Le Président Le Trésorier 2fr |
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| Comments |
Wartime necessity drove France's chambers of commerce into emergency note issue from 1914 onward, as the hoarding of coins drained small-denomination currency from everyday trade almost immediately after mobilization. Oran's chamber was among dozens across metropolitan France and Algeria that filled the gap with locally authorized paper, printed on the mainland and shipped across the Mediterranean.
Moullot fils aîné was a significant Marseille commercial printer with long experience in North African institutional work — a practical choice for an Algerian chamber that needed fast, competent production without the delays of Paris. The five Pick references (JP#141.14 through .18) indicate distinct date or signature varieties within what is otherwise a single design run.