Banknotes from France (notgeld)

Many cities in France issued their own currency tokens (notgeld) to circulate alongside or in the place of usually hoarded coins. Following the economic and financial turmoil created both during and by the aftermath of WWI, the franc was devalued, and subsequently silver 50 centimes, 1 franc, and 2 Franc coins began to disappear from circulation fast, due to people hoarding them for their silver value. As a result, a coinage shortage occurred, and municipalities began issuing their own replacements starting midway through the First World War, and continuing into the 1920s. The notgeld issues had ended by 1931, by which point new Chambres de Commerce issues had become widely available and circulating. Most of those coins were made of low-value metals like zinc or aluminium and stamp coins were also widely made. French colonies where the Franc circulated also issued their own notgeld during the 1920s.
Read more

See also: France

• Aisne, Department of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Aisne, Department of › Saint-Quentin and Guise, Communes of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Aisne, Department of › Saint-Quentin, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Ardennes, Department of › Charleville-Mézières, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Bas-Rhein, Department of › Strasbourg, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Bouches-du-Rhône, Department of › Marseille, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Deux-Sévres, Department of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Haut-Rhin, Department of › Colmar, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Haut-Rhin, Department of › Mulhouse, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Landes, Department of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Marne, Department of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Meurthe-et-Moselle, Department of › Nancy, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Moselle, Department of › Metz, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Nord and Pas-de-Calais, Department s of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Nord, Aisne, and Oise, Departements of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Nord, Department of › Lille, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Nord, Department of › Roubaix and Tourcoing, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Nord, Department of › Lille, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)
• Pas-de-Calais, Department of › Saint-Omer, Commune of
  • Franc (1795-1959)

France › French notgeld › Aisne, Department of • Franc (1795-1959)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

1 franc - departments of Aisne, Ardennes and La Marne
1916
Local banknote
90 × 60 mm
JP1418# 02 - 1309, N# 312652

France › French notgeld › Aisne, Department of › Saint-Quentin and Guise, Communes of • Franc (1795-1959)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

1 Franc - Regions de Saint-Quentin & de Guise
1916
Local banknote
88 × 60 mm
N# 214132

5 Francs - Hauteville
1917
Local banknote
120 × 75 mm
JP1418# pages 41/42, N# 312650

France › French notgeld › Aisne, Department of › Saint-Quentin, Commune of • Franc (1795-1959)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

25 Centimes - Ville de Saint-Quentin
1914
Local banknote
108 × 63 mm
JP1418# 02-2028, N# 214129

France › French notgeld › Ardennes, Department of › Charleville-Mézières, Commune of • Franc (1795-1959)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

25 centimes - Syndicat d'Emission fr Bons de Caisse de Charleville-mizières
1916
Local banknote: 2016
80 × 50 mm
N# 283753

France › French notgeld › Ariège, Department of • Unspecified currency

10 centimes - Chambre de commerce de l'Ariège [09]
1920-1921
Local banknote

JP# 012.02/05/08, N# 244620

25 centimes - Chambre de commerce de l'Ariège [09]
1920-1921
Local banknote

JP# 012.03/06/09, N# 244621

France › French notgeld › Bas-Rhein, Department of › Strasbourg, Commune of • Franc (1795-1959)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Ville de Strasbourg (67)
1918
Local banknote
100 × 61 mm
JP# 133- 01/02/03, N# 315640

un franc - Ville de Strasbourg (67)
1918
Local banknote
115 × 67 mm
JP# 133- 04/05, N# 315643

France › French notgeld › Bouches-du-Rhône, Department of › Marseille, Commune of • Franc (1795-1959)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

Billets à ordre Bouches du Rhône Marseille
1897
Local banknote
242 × 94 mm
N# 307612

Billets à ordre Bouches du Rhône Marseille
1890
Local banknote
242 × 98