Evening star., 1937-08-01
The Travellers Notebook
Tourists in France Find New Coins in Use-A
Hnsty Sketch Of the Ordinary Money
TrnroIore
Travellers Use.
nv JAcOUES EI,rREIJE m

BY JACQUES FUTRELLE, JR.
"O THOSE hasty Americans who
hit the high spots Of Europe
on quickie tours, coming back
L to the United States to catch
their breath and proudly announce
that they have done Europe, foreign
currencies are likely to remain for
ever a mystery. Intense itineraries
hardly leave time to give the roller
coaster tourist a speaking acquaint-
ance with the variety of coins, which
usually change radically every time
one crosses q border Travelling back
and forth or in circles, one may stay
in France long enough to learn more
than just the fact that the centime is
not worth a dime. But travel in
straight line would land one in an
France, for instance, is not quite as
large as Texas, and England is only
$50 from Lands End to John
O'Groats. So new coins come
quickly.
Tourists visiting France again for
the first time within year are find
ing a new and curious group of
COINS being handed them in change.
They are the jetons, which look like
an alloy Of bronze and aluminium; in
fact, they are just that and have In
the last few months driven gold and
silver CONS out of reach of the trav-
eler. But the jetons buy such COM
forts and services as their limited
value allow. so it really doesn't mat
ter what form currency takes as
long as it does not become eggs or
pie la mode.
THE first thing for the novice trav-
eler in France to do is to acquire
an intense dislike for Centimes. al
though they do come in handy as
| inexpensive souvenirs for the children
back home They are easily spotted.
being Of nickel and, yes, the hole is
genuine, a part Of the coin A pock-
| etful of them is worth five cents.
Technically. 100 make a franc, the
equivalent of an American scent
piece.
| The franc, somewhat smaller than
an American quarter, has an interna-
tlonal reputation as unitarian coin
1t is used to measure Frances budget,
the debt and to tip persons who per-
form routine services for the traveller
as, for instance, carrying baggage
But foreign tipping is an art in itself
| and requires lengthy discourse.
Helping TO relieve the pockets of trav-
elers, who acquire pounds and pounds
of francs in their daily shopping. are
the Bank of France notes. These are
issued in denominations of so, 100, 500
and l 900 francs.
If strange nickel coin turns up,
about half again the size Of an
American dime, it might be the 25-
| centlme piece. worth approximately
one fourth of 5 cents 1t has no
! practical value to the tourist.
IN ITALY one can. without trying
accumulate loads of centesimi
which also have little usuage IN ordi-
nary travel. The bronze coins are OF
5 and 10 denominations: the nickel
in 20 and so, the latter being equal tc
half Ira One and two Ira pieces
IN nickel also float around. but only
lire in single silver coin rank the
Worthiness of being called tip. This
coin is about the size Of the American
nickel. Single coins of 10 and &c
lire also come in handy. They, too
are silver.
Then come lire notes. about the size
Of the French franc notes and issued
in 10, So 100 and ! 900 denominations
But to be frugal in Italian travel. one