Saar franc
Saar franken (German) | |||||
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Denominations | |||||
Subunit | |||||
1⁄100 | Centime | ||||
Coins | 10, 20, 50, 100 francs | ||||
Demographics | |||||
Date of introduction | 1947 | ||||
Replaced | |||||
Date of withdrawal |
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Replaced by | Deutsche Mark | ||||
User(s) | Saar Protectorate | ||||
Issuance | |||||
Central bank | Saar Protectorate | ||||
Mint | Monnaie de Paris | ||||
Website | www | ||||
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. |
The Saar franc was the
History
1920–1935
The
After the plebiscite of 1935, when the Saar Territory was unified with the German Empire again, the Reichsmark (ℛℳ) was immediately introduced. The official exchange rate was 1 franc = 0.1645 ℛℳ.[1]
1947–1959
On 16 July 1947, banknotes were issued for Saar denominated in marks, which replaced the German Reichsmark. But in November 1947, the French government reintroduced the French franc as the official currency. Between 20 November 1947 and 15 January 1948, all notes and coins had to be exchanged at a rate of 20 Saar marks = 1 franc. In 1954 the government of the Protectorate issued new coins in denominations of 10, 20, 50 and 100 francs.[2] The coins resembled the coins of the French franc (same metallic composition, size and weight) and were officially and legally not a currency of their own, but only local issues of the French franc.
After a referendum about the future status of the region, Saarland was incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany as a Bundesland on 1 January 1957. The economic integration into Germany was completed with the withdrawal of all Saar francs two years later. On 29 June 1959 the federal ordinance "Verordnung zur Einführung der Deutschen Mark im Saarland"[3] stipulated that – with effect from 6 July (§ 1) – all debts, credits, deposits, wages, rents, fees, interest servicing, or amortisation payments, and other obligations, as well as cash reserves and prices denominated in francs were to be converted at the rate of 100 francs = 0.8507 Deutsche Mark (§ 2).[4] The conversion had been brought forward by half a year because of the accelerating depreciation of the French franc. The date was kept secret (called "day X") to avoid currency speculation until two days in advance. The freedom to fix new prices was maintained, but especially temporarily or permanently-fixed obligations, not to be altered at any time, were to be not renegotiated but converted at the rate fixed.
Appearance and acceptance
Pictures on coins of Saar Protectorate always depicted things related to industry and mining in the region. Moreover, the coat of arms of the Saar Protectorate appears on every coin.
Coins of 10, 20 and 50 francs depicted a factory and mining tower, with the coat of arms of the Saar Protectorate in front of them. 100-franc coins depicted a gearwheel, again with the coat of arms of Saar Protectorate in front of it.
All four coins were identical to the official French coins in color, size and weight and only the writing and the picture was different. There were no smaller coins, as the usual French coins (1, 2, 5 francs) were used instead. All French coins were accepted in the protectorate, but the Saar coins were usually not accepted in France except in the bigger cities adjacent to the border.
Coins of the Saar franc | |||||||||
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Image | Value | Technical parameters | Description | Date of minting | |||||
Diameter | Thickness | Mass | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | |||
10 francs | 20 mm | 1.5 mm | 3.00 grams | Aluminium-bronze | Plain/Smooth | Industrial scene with the coat of arms of the Saar Protectorate, text "SAARLAND" | 10, text "ZEHN FRAKEN", date | 1954 | |
20 francs | 23.8 mm | 1.65 mm | 4.00 grams | Aluminium-bronze | Plain/Smooth | Industrial scene with the coat of arms of the Saar Protectorate, text "SAARLAND" | 20, text "ZWANZIG FRAKEN", date | 1954 | |
50 francs | 27 mm | 2.4 mm | 8.00 grams | Aluminium-bronze | Plain/Smooth | Industrial scene with the coat of arms the Saar Protectorate, text "SAARLAND" | 50, text "FÜNFZIG FRANKEN", date | 1954 | |
100 francs | 24 mm | 1.88 mm | 6.00 grams | Copper-nickel | Reeded | Coat of arms of the Saar Protectorate within a circular design, text "SAARLAND" | 100, text "EINHUNDERT FRANKEN", date | 1955 |
References
- ^ The Saar money
- ^ Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Saar". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
- ^ Bundesgesetzblatt (BGBl., Federal Law Gazette) I, p. 402
- ^ The Federal Republic of Germany fixed that rate and converted older obligations denominated in Saar francs at the same rate into Deutsche Mark. Cf. the federal act on compensations "Bundesgesetz zur Einführung des Bundesgesetzes zur Regelung der rückerstattungsrechtlichen Geldverbindlichkeiten des Deutschen Reichs und gleichgestellter Rechtsträger (Bundesrückerstattungsgesetz – BRüG) im Saarland", which – in its Art. II, No. 8 – mentions the official rate.
Preceded by: Reichsmark and Saar mark Reason: Introduction of a circulating currency of the Saar. Ratio: 20 Saar mark = 1 French franc |
Currency of Saar November 20, 1947 – January 15, 1948 |
Succeeded by: Saar franc Reason: Introduction of a local version of the French franc. |
Preceded by: Saar franc Reason: Introduction of a local version of the French franc. Ratio: 20 Saar mark = 1 French franc |
Currency of Saar 1954 – June 29, 1959 |
Succeeded by: Bundesland on January 1, 1957, and subsequent withdrawal of the Saar franc on July 6, 1959.Ratio: 100 francs = 0.8507 Deutsche Mark |