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French Currency Used by Soldiers Stationed in France During World War One

Cinquante Centimes from 1916 was worth about 10 cents in 1918 USD.

Cinquante Centimes 0.50 Front Side

Cinquante Centimes 0.50 Front Side (Above)

Cinquante Centimes 0.50 Back Side

Cinquante Centimes 0.50 Back Side (Above)

The 50 centimes emergency notes were issued by the Chambre de Commerce from the city of Deux Sèvres on September 30, 1915 and July 10, 1916.

1 Framc Baml Note from 1916 was worth about 20 cents in 1918 USD.

1 Franc Bank Note - Front Side

1 Franc Bank Note issued in 1916 - Front Side (Above)

JP.93.3 1 Franc, Niort (79) Imp Richard, Paris 9/30/1915

 

1 Franc Bank Note - Back Side

1 Franc Bank Note - Back Side (Above)

Note from the Archivist

Many readers over the years have questioned the value that was typed on the French currency. This currency was brought back from France by Ludvig Kristian Gjenvick at the end of WWI and the value is roughly correct for 1918.

According the New World Economics, the franc lost a lot of value during WWI and soon afterwards. View the chart showing U.S. cents per franc, 1913-1940 at newworldeconomics.com/foreign-exchange-rates-1913-1941-2-the-currenty-upheavals-of-the-interwar-period/

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The Folks Behind the GG Archives

The GG Archives is the work and passion of two people, Paul Gjenvick, a professional archivist, and Evelyne Gjenvick, a curator. Paul earned a Masters of Archival Studies - a terminal degree from Clayton State University in Georgia, where he studied under renowned archivist Richard Pearce-Moses. Our research into the RMS Laconia and SS Bergensfjord, the ships that brought two members of the Gjønvik family from Norway to the United States in the early 20th century, has helped us design our site for other genealogists. The extent of original materials at the GG Archives can be very beneficial when researching your family's migration from Europe.