Description

World War I and the aftermath brought substantial changes to the coinage. In 1920, 1 and 2-centime coins were discontinued and production of silver coinage ceased, with aluminum-bronze 50-centime, 1-franc, and 2-franc coins introduced. Until 1929, these coins were issued by local merchants' associations, bearing the phrase bon pour on it (meaning: "good for").

Altho issued by the Paris mint, technically this type is not a coin but a token issued by the national Chamber of Commerce, not the government. This enabled the politicians to postpone acknowledging the obvious, that the inflation of World War One had reduced the value of the franc to one-fifth of its former level and there was no going back. Finally, president Poincaré officially devalued the franc and ordered the issue of new coin types.

Engraver: Joseph-François Domard