Catalog
½ Frange / Franc
| Issuer | Shqipërie Vetqeveritare (Albanian Self-Government, Korçë) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1917 |
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| Value | ½ Frange / Franc |
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| Obverse description | Green guilloche underprint covers the entire field, over which a large double-headed eagle vignette is centrally placed in dark ink. The denomination '1/2 fr' appears in two circular cartouches at upper left and upper right, with the title 'SHOIPËRIE VETOEVERITARE' across the top. Bilingual text in French and Albanian below the eagle authorizes payment, with the place name 'KORÇË' and a serial number and letter suffix along the lower margin, dated 25-3-17. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse is printed entirely in green, with a dense guilloche pattern of repeating '50' numerals and wave motifs filling the entire field. The denomination text 'DEMI FRANC' appears in the upper portion and 'GJYSMË FRANGE' in the lower portion, with the large numeral '1/2' centered between them. A circular violet postmark stamp is visible in the upper right area. |
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| Comments |
The Korçë (Korytsa) district notes of 1917 are among the most unusual emergency issues of the First World War. French forces had occupied the town in late 1916 and established a short-lived autonomous zone — the République de Korytsa — administered jointly with local Albanian authorities. This fractional note was produced locally, almost certainly without a professional press, to address a complete absence of small change in daily commerce.
The "Shqipërie Vetqeveritare" designation reflects the French-backed fiction of Albanian self-rule within what was effectively a military protectorate. The entire series was demonetized when French forces withdrew in 1920.