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.
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See also: France

• France › French Notgeld
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Aisne, Department of › Saint-Quentin and Guise, Communes of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Aisne, Department of › Saint-Quentin, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Allier, Department of › Montluçon and Gannat, Communes of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Alpes Maritimes, Department of › Nice, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Angoulême, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Ardeche, Department of › Annonay, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Ardeche, Department of › Aubenas, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Aude, Department of › Carcassonne, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Aveyron, Department of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Belfort, Territoire de › Belfort, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Calvados, Department of › Caen and Honfleur, Communes of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Cantal, Department of › Aurillac, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Chateauroux, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Côte-d'Or, Department of › Dijon, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Dordogne, Department of › Périgueux, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Drôme, Department of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Finistère, Department of › Quimper and Brest, Communes of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Gard, Department of › Alais, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Gard, Department of › Auch, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Gironde, Department of › Bordeaux, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Haut-Rhin, Department of › Colmar, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Haut-Rhin, Department of › Mulhouse, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Haute et Basse-Corse, Departments of › Ajaccio and Bastia, Communes of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Haute-Marne, Department of › Saint-Dizier, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Haute-Saône, Department of › Lure, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Haute-Savoie, Department of › Annecy, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Hérault, Department of › Béziers, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Ille-et-Vilaine, Department of › Rennes and Saint-Malo, Communes of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Landes, Department of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Loire-Atlantique, Department of › Nantes, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Lot-et-Garonne, Department of › Agen, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Lot, Department of › Cahors, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Lot, Department of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Maine-et-Loire, Department of › Angers, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Marne, Department of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Meurthe-et-Moselle, Department of › Nancy, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Morbihan, Department of › Lorient, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Moselle, Department of › Metz, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Nièvre, Department of › Nevers, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Nord and Pas-de-Calais, Department s of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Nord, Aisne, and Oise, Departements of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Nord, Department of › Lille, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Nord, Department of › Roubaix and Tourcoing, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Orne, Department of › Alençon and Flers, Communes of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Pas-de-Calais, Department of › Arras, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Pas-de-Calais, Department of › Calais, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Pas-de-Calais, Department of › Saint-Omer, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Provence, Region of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Puy-de-Dôme, Departement of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Pyrénées-Orientales, Department of › Perpignan, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Rhône, Department of › Lyon, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Saône-et-Loire and Ain, Departments de › Mâcon and de Bourg-en-Bresse, Communes of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Savoie, Department of › Chambéry, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Seine-et-Marne, Department of › Melun, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Seine-Maritime, Department of › Havre, Commune du
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Seine-Maritime, Department of › Rouen, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Seine-Maritime, Department of › Tréport, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Seine, Department of › Paris, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Somme, Department of › Abbeville, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Somme, Department of › Amiens, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Tarn, Department of › Albi, Castres, and Mazamet, Communes of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Toulon, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Vaucluse, Department of › Avignon, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Vendee, Department of › La Roche-sur-Yon, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Vienne, Department of › Poitiers, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)
• Vosges, Department of › Épinal, Commune of
  • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

France › French Notgeld • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Chambre de Commerce des CÔTES DU NORD [22]
1918
Local banknote
62 × 115 mm
JP# 111.01/02/03/04/05/11/13/14/17/19

50 centimes - Chambre de Commerce d'Orléans et de Blois [45] [41]
1920-1921
Local banknote
58 × 62 mm
P# 96.01/02/05/06

France › French Notgeld › Aisne, Department of › Saint-Quentin and Guise, Communes of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

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

France › French Notgeld › Aisne, Department of › Saint-Quentin, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

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

France › French Notgeld › Allier, Department of › Montluçon and Gannat, Communes of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

10 Centimes Chambres de Commerce de Montluçon et de Gannat
(1918)
Local banknote
62 × 36 mm
JP# 084.67

France › French Notgeld › Alpes Maritimes, Department of › Nice, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Chambre de Commerce de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes
1920
Local banknote
80 × 55 mm
JP# 091.09/14

France › French Notgeld › Angoulême, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16]
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.01/02

50 centimes - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <2ème série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.09/10

50 centimes - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <3ème série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.13/14/15

50 centimes - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <4ème série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.20/23/25

50 centimes - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <5ème série>
1917
Local banknote
JP# 009.33/35/40/41

50 centimes - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <6ème série>
1920
Local banknote
JP# 009.46

1 Franc - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <1ère série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.03/05

1 franc - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <2ème série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.11

1 franc - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <3ème série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.16

1 franc - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <4ème série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.21/27/28/29

1 franc - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <5ème série>
1917
Local banknote
JP# 009.36/37/42/43

1 franc - Chambre de commerce d'Angoulème [16] <6ème série>
1920
Local banknote
JP# 009.47/48

2 francs - Chambre de Commerce d'Angoulême [16] <1er série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.06/07/08

2 francs - Chambre de Commerce d'Angoulême [16] <2ème série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.12

2 Francs - Chamber of Commerce of Angoulême
1915
Local banknote
101 × 65 mm
JP# 009.18

2 francs - Chambre de Commerce d'Angoulême [16] <4ème série>
1915
Local banknote
JP# 009.31

2 francs - Chambre de Commerce d'Angoulême [16] <5ème série>
1917
Local banknote
JP# 009.38/39/44/45

2 francs - Chambre de Commerce d'Angoulême [16] <6ème série>
1920
Local banknote
JP# 009.49

France › French Notgeld › Ardeche, Department of › Annonay, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Chambre de commerce d'Annonay [07]
1914
Local banknote
JP# 011.01/03/05

50 centimes - Chambre de commerce d'Annonay [07]
1917-1921
Local banknote
JP# 011.09/10/11/15/16/17/21/23

1 franc - Chambre de commerce d'Annonay [07]
1914
Local banknote
JP# 011.04/06/08

1 franc - Chambre de commerce d'Annonay [07]
1917-1921
Local banknote
JP# 011.12/13/14/18/19/20/22/24

France › French Notgeld › Ardeche, Department of › Aubenas, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 Centimes - Chambre de Commerce d'Aubenas [07]
1921
Local banknote
JP# 014.01

1 franc - Chambre de Commerce d'Aubenas [07]
1921
Local banknote
JP# 014.02

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

5 centimes - Chambre de commerce de l'Ariège [09]
1920-1921
Local banknote
JP# 012.01/04/07

10 centimes - Chambre de commerce de l'Ariège [09]
1920-1921
Local banknote
JP# 012.02/05/08

25 centimes - Chambre de commerce de l'Ariège [09]
1920-1921
Local banknote
JP# 012.03/06/09

France › French Notgeld › Aude, Department of › Carcassonne, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

1 franc - Chambre de commerce de Carcassonne [11]
1920
Local banknote
103 × 63 mm
JP# 038.17/18

France › French Notgeld › Aveyron, Department of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Chambres de Commerce de l'Aveyron [12]
1915-1921
Local banknote
88 × 54 mm
JP# 108.01/02/03/04/08/11/12/13/16/17

France › French Notgeld › Belfort, Territoire de › Belfort, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Chambres de Commerce de Belfort
1917-1918
Local banknote
53 × 89 mm
JP# 023.26/34/35/36/41/42/43

1 Franc - Chambres de Commerce de Belfort
1915-1916
Local banknote
61 × 94 mm
JP# 023.09/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/21/22/23/24/25

France › French Notgeld › Calvados, Department of › Caen and Honfleur, Communes of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

1 Franc - Chambres de Commerce de Caen et de Honfleur - 3éme Emission
(1915-1918)
Local banknote
79 × 114 mm
JP# 034.14/15/18/19/22/23

France › French Notgeld › Cantal, Department of › Aurillac, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

25 centimes - Chambre de Commerce d'Aurillac [15]
(1917-1923)
Local banknote
JP# 016.11

50 centimes - Chambre de Commerce d'Aurillac [15]
(1915-1920)
Local banknote
JP# 016.01/02/03/07/09

50 centimes - Chambre de Commerce d'Aurillac [15]
(1917-1923)
Local banknote
JP# 016.12

50 centimes - Chambre de Commerce d'Aurillac [15]
(1920-1923)
Local banknote
JP# 016.14

1 franc - Chambre de Commerce d'Aurillac [15]
(1915-1920)
Local banknote
JP# 016.04/05/06/08/10

1 franc - Chambre de Commerce d'Aurillac [15]
(1917-1923)
Local banknote
JP# 016.13

1 franc - Chambre de Commerce d'Aurillac [15]
(1920-1923)
Local banknote
JP# 016.15

France › French Notgeld › Chateauroux, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

1 franc - Chambres de Commerce de Chateauroux [36]
1915-1922
Local banknote
91 × 60 mm
JP# 046.19/21/23

France › French Notgeld › Côte-d'Or, Department of › Dijon, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Chambre de Commerce de Dijon
1919
Local banknote
68 × 60 mm
JP# 053-17

1 franc - Chambre de Commerce de Dijon (4e série)
1915-1919
Local banknote
66 × 97 mm
JP# 053.04/05/06/09/14/15/16/20/21/22

France › French Notgeld › Dordogne, Department of › Périgueux, Commune of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Chambres de Commerce de Périgueux
1917-1920
Local banknote
93 × 59 mm
JP# 098.22/25

France › French Notgeld › Drôme, Department of • Franc (notgeld, 1914-1931)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

50 centimes - Chambre de Commerce de Valence et de la Drome
1915
Local banknote
90 × 56 mm
JP# 127.01/02/05/06