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50 centimes - Chambre de Commerce de Bergerac [24]
| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce de Bergerac |
|---|---|
| Year | 1921 |
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| Engraver(s) | R. Haon |
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| Obverse description | Olive-green guilloche underprint overall, with repeating '50' numerals across the field. At left, a central vignette shows an allegorical female figure in classical dress, holding a staff and a shield, set against decorative foliage. The issuer's title 'CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE BERGERAC' runs along the top in bold letterpress, with the denomination 'CINQUANTE CENTIMES' in large bold type to the right. Two manuscript signatures appear beneath the titles 'LE PRÉSIDENT' and 'LE TRÉSORIER', with a serial number at the lower right. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE BERGERAC | USINE ELECTRIQUE DE TUILIERES | LA CONTRE-VALEUR DE CE BILLET A ÉTÉ DÉPOSÉE AU TRÉSOR PUBLIC. | LE PORTEUR EST TENU DE LE PRÉSENTER AU REMBOURSEMENT DANS UN DÉLAI DE TROIS ANS, | À DATER DE CE JOUR, SOUS PEINE DE DÉCHÉANCE | (10 SEPTEMBRE 1921) |
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| Comments |
The Chambre de Commerce de Bergerac was one of hundreds of French local chambers that stepped in to produce small-denomination emergency notes after the wartime hoarding of coins left everyday commerce effectively paralyzed. By 1921, the crisis had technically passed, but fractional coinage remained scarce enough that chambers continued issuing well into the early twenties before the Treasury finally withdrew authorization. Bergerac's series was printed locally by Giraudel & Sorbier, which was unusual — most provincial chambers contracted larger specialist houses in Bordeaux or Paris. The watermarked paper adds a modest security measure rarely seen at this denomination in comparable provincial issues.