Saint Pierre and Miquelon franc
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The franc was the currency of Saint Pierre and Miquelon until 2002. It was subdivided into 100 centimes.
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[edit] History
Before 1890, the French franc and Canadian dollar circulated on the islands. These were supplemented with local banknotes from 1890. The exchange rate of 5.4 francs = 1 dollar was used on the island, although the exchange rate from the two gold standards was 5.1826 francs = 1 dollar. After the franc left the gold standard, only the franc circulated.
During the Second World War, a full set of banknotes was introduced for the islands. In 1945, Saint Pierre and Miquelon adopted a franc tied to the CFA franc, thus avoiding some of the devaluation imposed on the metropolitan currency (c.f. Réunion franc). Coins were issued for the islands in 1948.
In 1960, Saint Pierre and Miquelon adopted the new franc, with 50 old francs = 1 new franc. Local banknotes were used until 1965, when the islands began using French currency exclusively. The islands used French currency until 2002, when the euro was introduced.
[edit] Coins
Saint Pierre and Miquelon's only coins were aluminium 1 and 2 francs coins struck in 1948.
[edit] Banknotes
Between 1890 and 1895, the Banque des Isles Saint-Pierre et Miquelon issued 27 and 54 francs notes. These unusual denominations were equivalent to 5 and 10 Canadian dollars. In 1920, the Chamber of Commerce introduced notes in denominations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 francs.
In 1943, the Caisse Centrale de la France Libre introduced notes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 100 and 1000 francs. These were followed from 1945 by issues of the Caisse Centrale de la France Libre in denominations of 5, 20 and 1000 francs, followed by 10 francs in 1946, 50 francs in 1947 and 100, 500 and 5000 francs in 1950.
From 1960, notes were issued overprinted with the value in new francs. These were in denominations of 1, 2, 10, 20 and 100 new francs, overprinted on 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 francs notes.
[edit] References
- Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801-1991, 18th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-150-1.
- Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues, Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors), 7th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.
