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50 Centimes - Chambre de Commerce d'Épinal [88]
| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce d'Épinal |
|---|---|
| Year | 1920 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 50 Centimes (0.50) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Blue-green letterpress note with an ornate guilloche border incorporating four cornerpieces each bearing the denomination numeral '0,50'. At the upper centre, the municipal arms of Épinal — a turreted tower within a wreath of laurel branches — serve as the central vignette. The denomination '50 CENTIMES' is set in large bold type within a plain rectangular panel at centre, below which appear two manuscript signature lines for the Treasurer and the President flanking the serial number. The printer's imprint 'NANCY-PARIS-STRASBOURG BERGER-LEVRAULT' runs along the lower margin. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE D'ÉPINAL 1920 Les billets en circulation sont échangeables contre les billets de la Banque de France jusqu'au 1er juillet 1923. 0,50 (aux quatre angles) |
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| Comments |
Épinal's Chamber of Commerce began issuing emergency fractional notes — monnaie de nécessité — during the First World War when small coinage vanished from circulation almost entirely, hoarded or melted. This 50 centimes piece belongs to the post-war continuation of that practice; the coin shortage persisted well into 1920, forcing provincial chambers across France to keep their emergency issues alive longer than anyone had anticipated.
Berger-Levrault, the Nancy printer responsible for this note, was among the most technically capable regional printers in France, with deep roots in official and administrative publishing. The Vosges department chambers leaned on them heavily throughout the necessity currency period.