Franc

The franc (₣) is the name of several currency units. The French franc was the former currency of France until the euro was adopted in 1999 (by law, 2002 de facto). The Swiss franc is a major world currency today due to the prominence of Swiss financial institutions. The name is said to derive from the Latin inscription francorum rex (Style of the French sovereign: King of the Franks) used on early French coins and until the 18th century, or from the French franc, meaning "free" (and "frank").

The countries that use francs include Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and most of Francophone Africa. Before the introduction of the euro, francs were also used in France, Belgium and Luxembourg, while Andorra and Monaco accepted the French franc as legal tender (Monegasque franc). The franc was also used within the French Empire's colonies, including Algeria and Cambodia. The franc is sometimes italianised or hispanicised as the franco, for instance in Luccan franco.

One franc is typically divided into 100 centimes. The French franc symbol was an F with a line through it (₣) or, more frequently, only an F. For practical reasons, the banks and the financial markets used the abbreviation FF for the French franc in order to distinguish it from the Belgian franc (FB), the Luxembourgish franc (FL or FLux) etcetera. (In the Luxembourgish language, the word for franc is Frang, plural form Frangen.)

99 Francs

99 Francs is a 2000 novel by French writer Frédéric Beigbeder. The book was released in France on August 2000 through Grasset & Fasquelle and has since been re-released under the titles € 14.99 and € 6. Shortly after the book's initial release Beigbeder was fired from his advertising job after his employers read 99 Francs.

In 2007 the book was adapted into a film by the same name that was directed by Jan Kounen and written by Nicolas & Bruno.

Summary

The book follows zuho, a successful copywriter that appears to have it all. Not only is his job going well, but he has surrounded himself with expensive material goods, beautiful women, and lots of cocaine. That easygoing life ends when he becomes disillusioned with his life and his job after a meeting with a client ends with him smearing the word "pigs" on the walls using his own blood.

Reception

Jonathan Evans questioned the book's 2002 English translation, which changed the book's setting from France to England as well as changing francs to pounds.Guardian reviewer Nicholas Lezard also commented on the changes to the book, stating that the "geographical and cultural translations are by no means consistent or necessarily successful".

Belgian coins of World War II

During World War II, the Belgian government needed to mint coins using metal that would not be needed for the war effort. Therefore, Silver was discontinued in order to preserve it, so the coinage became pure Zinc

In 1944, shortly before the Liberation, the Allies minted 25 million 2 franc coins at the Philadelphia Mint, which were put in circulation after Belgium regained its independence.

Occupation coinage

One Franc

The 1 Franc coin was circulated through Belgium from 1941.

Five Francs

The 5 franc coin was minted between 1941 and 1947, first by the Germans during the occupation of Belgium, and then by the Belgian government after the end of World War II. The coin composed of 100% zinc, and was an emergency issue type.

Five Centimes

The 5 centimes coin was minted between 1941 and 1943 during the German occupation. The coin composed of 100% zinc, and was an emergency issue type. There are also two different varieties. The Centime is a sub-unit of the franc. It is 1/100 of a franc.