Albanian municipal emergency money is rare enough as a category; Korçë's 1921 issues are among the most historically loaded within it. The city had only recently been evacuated by French forces following years of occupation — a period during which Korçë functioned as a quasi-autonomous French protectorate known as the République de Korçë. The municipality was effectively rebuilding a local economy with almost no national monetary infrastructure to rely on.
The handstamp authentication was the only available security measure, and forgeries of this issue are documented. Check the impression depth and ink absorption carefully — known counterfeits show a shallower stamp with bleed inconsistent with period Albanian ink stocks.
Albanian municipal emergency money is rare enough as a category; Korçë's 1921 issues are among the most historically loaded within it. The city had only recently been evacuated by French forces following years of occupation — a period during which Korçë functioned as a quasi-autonomous French protectorate known as the République de Korçë. The municipality was effectively rebuilding a local economy with almost no national monetary infrastructure to rely on.
The handstamp authentication was the only available security measure, and forgeries of this issue are documented. Check the impression depth and ink absorption carefully — known counterfeits show a shallower stamp with bleed inconsistent with period Albanian ink stocks.