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1 Frangë / Franc
| Issuer | Shqipërie Vetqeveritare (Albanian Self-Government, Korçë) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1917 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Frangë / Franc |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is printed in dark brown and red on a guilloche underprint of repeating geometric rosette patterns. At centre, a large double-headed Albanian eagle vignette is flanked on each side by a circular denomination cartouche reading '1 Fr'. The header bears the inscription 'SHQIPËRIE VETOEVERITARE' in bold letterpress, with bilingual promise text in French and Albanian below, two manuscript signature lines, and the place and date 'KORÇA / 1-3-17' at foot, alongside a serial letter and number. The engraver's credit 'GRAVEUR: DAVIER' and printer's imprint 'IMPR. A. A. VANGHELI – KORTIZA' appear along the bottom margin. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | SHQIPËRIE VETOEVERITARE 1 Fr A VUE ET AU PORTEUR LA DIRECTION DES FINANCES PAIERA LA SOMME DE UN FRANC LE DIRECTEUR DES FINANCES ME TË PARË DIREKCIA E FINANCËS DO TË PAGUAJË SJELLTARISUMË TË NJË FRANGE LE PRÉSIDENT DU CONSEIL KORÇA 1-3-17 GRAVEUR: DAVIER IMPR. A. A. VANGHELI – KORTIZA |
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| Comments |
The Korçë franc notes of 1917 are among the most unusual emergency issues in European numismatic history — produced not by a national government but by a French-administered autonomous zone established in the town of Korçë after French forces occupied the region in late 1916. The "Shqipërie Vetqeveritare" authority was a deliberately limited political construction, designed to placate Albanian national sentiment while keeping the area under French military control during the ongoing Macedonian campaign.
That the notes were printed locally by Vangheli's press, with engraving credited to Davier, rather than sent to France for production, reflects the practical isolation of the zone. Supply lines were unreliable and the need was immediate. The series circulated for barely two years before the zone was dissolved in 1920.