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Playing card maker unknown, Poitiers, France.
Collection Gejus van Diggele. |
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# 8
Playing card currency, French Revolution, 1792.
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Playing card maker unknown, Poitiers, France.
Collection Gejus van Diggele. |
The French Revolution started in 1789. The people wanted
freedom, equality and brotherhood. The monarchy was abolished in 1792. Louis XVI
lost his head under the guillotine early in 1793. Because small change was rare,
the patriotic treasury of St. Maixent, near Poitiers, decided to print emergency
currency on playing cards that had been produced in Poitiers. The currency has
been issued in different values. I also have a note for fifteen sou from St.
Maixent, dated 1791. Playing card currency was also used in Canada, Suriname,
Germany and Austria.
Gejus
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