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50 Centimes - Chambre de Commerce de Rouen 76
| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce de Rouen |
|---|---|
| Year | 1918-1922 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 50 Centimes (0.50) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Printed in blue on white paper, the obverse carries a central intaglio vignette of the port of Rouen with sailing vessels, steamships, and a suspension bridge, signed by artist G. Jouas at lower right. The upper register presents the municipal coat of arms of Rouen at left and the Norman heraldic arms at right, each within rope-bordered cartouches, flanking the issuing authority text and denomination in bold letterpress, with a guilloche-pattern underprint reading VILLE DE ROUEN and CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE across the central field. Manuscript signature spaces for Le Maire and Le Président appear below the denomination, with the printer's imprint IMP. RICHARD, PARIS at foot. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
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| Protection type | Watermark |
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| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
During and immediately after the First World War, the French state could not keep sufficient small-denomination coinage in circulation — metal was needed for the war effort, and hoarding did the rest. Chambers of Commerce across France were authorized to issue emergency paper fractional currency, and Rouen's chamber was among the most active, producing an extensive series of notes across multiple denominations and date variants. The JP reference numbers here reflect that proliferation: what looks like one note is actually a cluster of typographic variants distinguished by date, series letter, and minor text differences.
Imprimerie Richard handled much of this municipal emergency output. The watermark security was modest by any measure, appropriate to scrip never intended for long-term use.