Épernay's retail merchants association issued this token in 1922 during the post-war small change shortage that plagued provincial French commerce well into the early 1920s. The French state had suspended bronze coinage production during the war, and the resulting coin famine pushed local chambers of commerce, retailers' unions, and cooperative societies across the Marne and neighboring departments to produce their own emergency necessity pieces. Épernay — the undisputed center of Champagne production — had particular economic incentive to keep local retail trade moving smoothly, and brass tokens like this one circulated as functional small change among member merchants.
Épernay's retail merchants association issued this token in 1922 during the post-war small change shortage that plagued provincial French commerce well into the early 1920s. The French state had suspended bronze coinage production during the war, and the resulting coin famine pushed local chambers of commerce, retailers' unions, and cooperative societies across the Marne and neighboring departments to produce their own emergency necessity pieces. Épernay — the undisputed center of Champagne production — had particular economic incentive to keep local retail trade moving smoothly, and brass tokens like this one circulated as functional small change among member merchants.