Evreux 1921 10 centimes
During World War One, the government of France financed its war effort by issuing bonds backed by reparations to be extracted from Germany after victory was obtained. Altho victory was obtained by the Treaty of Versailles, the defeated enemy was in no condition to pay. Rather than admit the obvious and devalue the franc, the politicians of the early twenties attempted to maintain the currency at its pre-war value. This arrant denial of reality had the immediate effect of forcing currency into hiding. Just as in Germany, municipal authorities were forced to issue tokens to allow at least local commerce to continue. However, no collecting fad for French tokens developed as in Germany and these are much less numerous tho not rare. This ten centimes was issued by the commune of Evreux in Normandy. Five centimes, twenty-five centimes and one franc tokens also exist from Evreux. Later, in 1926, president Poincaré officially devalued the franc 80% and the pretense was abandoned.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.9 g, aluminum, 27 mm diameter, plain edge.
Catalog reference: --.
- Roland Élie, Monnaies de nécessité et jetons-monnaie, France, colonies, Monaco: 1800-2000, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, 2003.
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