# WWII Era Vichy Paper Currency Worth Anything?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-era-vichy-paper-currency-worth-anything/662714>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 5, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-era-vichy-paper-currency-worth-anything/662714 "2013-07-05T13:18:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-era-vichy-paper-currency-worth-anything/662714/1 "2013-07-05T13:18:37Z")

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My late uncle served in the US 8th Army, in the invasion of French North Africa. He sent home some paper currency ( Banque du Morocco 5, 10, and 50 franc notes). They are interesting because they bear the image of General Petain (Head of Vichy France).  
Since this is the kind of money that people would be spending at Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca, does it have any collector value?

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**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-era-vichy-paper-currency-worth-anything/662714/2 "2013-07-05T14:21:51Z")

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While we wait for someone knowledgeable to stop by, **ralph124c** - what condition are the bills in? Are they creased? Faded? Torn?

I have no idea what impact that would have on the actual value, mind you. But it might help getting a better answer.

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**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-era-vichy-paper-currency-worth-anything/662714/3 "2013-07-05T14:24:56Z")

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There are collectors for pretty much any and all currency ever issued anywhere. A quick search of ebay “Morocco 50 francs” returns multiple items from $ to $$$$.

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**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-era-vichy-paper-currency-worth-anything/662714/4 "2013-07-05T14:27:10Z")

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[Ebay](http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l2736&_nkw=vichy+banknote) shows a fairly wide range of prices, though none of it is ‘retire to the south of occupied France’ money.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-era-vichy-paper-currency-worth-anything/662714/5 "2013-07-05T14:27:12Z")

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Typically, French notes came home rather used–torn, dirty, multiple folds. Pretty common in that condition. I tend to throw them in my dollar box.

If perfectly uncirculated, then a different story.