2 Francs Ville et Chambre de Commerce du Havre [76]

Le Havre's chamber of commerce began issuing its own fractional emergency notes in 1914 when the French government's wartime requisitioning of coin — particularly silver and bronze — stripped the local port economy of the small change it needed to function. By 1917, the series had expanded to cover denominations up to 2 Francs, an unusually large value for chambres de commerce issues, most of which stopped at 1 Franc or below. The decision reflected the severe metallic currency shortage gripping a port city under enormous military and logistical pressure.

The watermark is the primary security feature, locally sourced paper being a practical choice for an issue printed within the city itself rather than contracted to a national printer.