Hello, I have been checking the Internet for information on a particular French coin. The obverse has a picture of Mercury, the god of commerce and the inscription, 'COMMERCE INDUSTRIE 1922' while the reverse has the inscription around the edge, 'CHAMBRES DE COMMERCE DE FRANCE' and the inner nscription, 'BON POUR 2 FRANCS'. I have a second worth 1 franc. These were issued from 1920-1927 and made of bronze-aluminium. Unfortunately the site describing these is still under construction. Does anyone have any idea what these are worth and their history? Thanks.
Afraid I can't tell you much about the history of these - don't know that there is anything specific or important about this coin. As for value - if in XF condition about $2 - if uncirculated about $7.
Here is a list of French websites, that seem to have information on the Aluminum-Bronze French Chambres de Commerce issues, but once you get past "oui", "non", and "le tour de France" (Way to go Lance ) French is all Greek to me. Krause gives no information about the three coins which have the design you describe, other than their composition and mintages, and a comment that they were produced at the Paris Mint. They are listed in the regular coinage sequence with standard KM numbers - KM#884, 50 centimes, 1921-29; KM#876, 1 franc, 1920-27; and KM#877, 2 francs, 1920-27; not in the pattern sequence (Pn#). Krause does not normally list jetons/tokens, which implies that these were legal tender, despite the "bon pour" ("good for") text. There are regular issues with standard legends listed for denominations below 50 centimes during that same post-WW I/global depression period. I have a few myself, and have never found any additional information about them in English.
Thanks for the help. I used the inscription on the coin, so the list I got started a bit further down your listing of French sites. Fortunately I have an elementary knowledge of French. This site http://sceco.univ-poitiers.fr/hfranc/necessitePGM.htm [sorry, never did learn to imbed hyperlinks] has the best pictures I saw. As I understand this site, the French suffered a shortage of money during WWI (no reason being given as to why) and in order to prevent a reversion to the barter system, a series of coins of private mintage were allowed. This continued after the war, the most notable example seeming to be the coins I referred to. The coins issued during the war were made of various things including cardboard. The coin at the bottom has a mica window in it with a stamp inside. I also wrote the Paris Chamber of Commerce but they are likely to answer only in September as August is vacation time in Europe and very few people will be at work. Look forward to any further info. Arturas
