France - Old Francs
This series of notes, printed between 1933 and 1958, is the most beautiful printed by the Banque de France. They include wonderful notes with allegorical figures, as well as rural French scenes and important figures of science, industry and politics. Clément Serveau is the most famous and prolific artist who best represents this period.
F.2.29 (P70) 5 Francs Bleu
Imp: BdF. 125x80mm
Astrological sign "Leo" for July (2-7-1915). Sig 2, 7/2/1915
Imp: BdF. 125x80mm
Astrological sign "Leo" for July (2-7-1915). Sig 2, 7/2/1915
F.3.12 (P72d) 5 Francs Violet
Allegory of France; Dock worker carrying a sack up a ladder
Imp: BdF. 125x80mm
Sig 3, 5/8/1928
Design by Charles Walhain in his first project for Banque de France
Allegory of France; Dock worker carrying a sack up a ladder
Imp: BdF. 125x80mm
Sig 3, 5/8/1928
Design by Charles Walhain in his first project for Banque de France
F.4.15 (P83) 5 Francs Violet
Allegory of France; Dock worker carrying a sack up a ladder
Imp: BdF. 125x80mm. Modified, signature changed to "Le Caissier Général"
Sig 4, 11/28/1940
Design by Charles Walhain in his first project for Banque de France
Allegory of France; Dock worker carrying a sack up a ladder
Imp: BdF. 125x80mm. Modified, signature changed to "Le Caissier Général"
Sig 4, 11/28/1940
Design by Charles Walhain in his first project for Banque de France
F.5.7 (P98b) 5 Francs Shepherd
Pyrenean shepherd and woman of Agenais
Imp: BdF. 100x65mm. This is the smallest banknote issued by Banque de France
Sig 5, 10/30/1947
Pyrenean shepherd and woman of Agenais
Imp: BdF. 100x65mm. This is the smallest banknote issued by Banque de France
Sig 5, 10/30/1947
Serveau, C. INV (F)
F.6.11 (P73d) 10 Francs Minerva
Effigy of the goddess Minerva; Peasant woman resting
Imp: BdF. 138x88mm
Sig 3, 10/23/1926
Effigy of the goddess Minerva; Peasant woman resting
Imp: BdF. 138x88mm
Sig 3, 10/23/1926
F.7.1 (P84) 10 Francs Minerva
Effigy of the goddess Minerva; Peasant woman resting
Imp: BdF. 138x88mm. Modified, signature changed to "Le Caissier Général"
Sig 4, 2/2/1939
Effigy of the goddess Minerva; Peasant woman resting
Imp: BdF. 138x88mm. Modified, signature changed to "Le Caissier Général"
Sig 4, 2/2/1939
F.8.19 (P99f) 10 Francs Miner
Miner; Peasant woman and child
Imp: BdF. 118x75mm
Sig 5, 12/4/1947
Miner; Peasant woman and child
Imp: BdF. 118x75mm
Sig 5, 12/4/1947
Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.12.12 (P92b) 20 Francs Science and Labor
Allegories of Science and Labor; Chemist looking through microscope
Imp: BdF. 160x97mm
Sig 4, 2/20/1941
Allegories of Science and Labor; Chemist looking through microscope
Imp: BdF. 160x97mm
Sig 4, 2/20/1941
F.13.14 (P100c) 20 Francs Fisherman
Fisherman and view of the Port de Concarneau; Women and child of Brittany
Imp: BdF. 130x80mm
Sig 4, 3/10/1949
Fisherman and view of the Port de Concarneau; Women and child of Brittany
Imp: BdF. 130x80mm
Sig 4, 3/10/1949
Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.14 (P64g) 50 Francs Blue and Rose
Allegories of Industry and Agriculture
Imp: BdF. 178x123mm
7/12/1924
Allegories of Industry and Agriculture
Imp: BdF. 178x123mm
7/12/1924
F.15.2 (P77a) 50 Francs Luc-Olivier Merson
Imp: BdF. 170x123mm. Luc-Olivier Merson Name in Margin
1927
Imp: BdF. 170x123mm. Luc-Olivier Merson Name in Margin
1927
F.16.2 (P80a) 50 Francs Luc-Olivier Merson
Child Mercury, allegories of Science and Labor
Imp: BdF. 170x123mm. Modified, w/o Merson Name. Starting with this note in 1930, BdF no longer mentions the artist's name in the margin of its banknotes
Sig 4, 8/13/1931
Child Mercury, allegories of Science and Labor
Imp: BdF. 170x123mm. Modified, w/o Merson Name. Starting with this note in 1930, BdF no longer mentions the artist's name in the margin of its banknotes
Sig 4, 8/13/1931
F.19.18 (P93) 50 Francs Jacques Coeur
Jacques Coeur; Woman of Berry at the Palais de Bourges
Imp: BdF. 145x90mm
Sig 4, 1/8/1942
Jacques Coeur; Woman of Berry at the Palais de Bourges
Imp: BdF. 145x90mm
Sig 4, 1/8/1942
Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.20.17 (P127c) 50 Francs Le Verrier
Astronomer Urbain Le Verrier; Neptune
Imp: BdF. 120x78mm
Sig 6, 2/1/1951
Astronomer Urbain Le Verrier; Neptune
Imp: BdF. 120x78mm
Sig 6, 2/1/1951
Poughéon, R. INV (F)
F.24.16 (P78c) 100 Francs Luc Olivier Merson
Allegories of women and children; Labor and Fortune
Imp: BdF. 182x112mm. 5-Digit Serial Numbers and Larger Background
Sig 7, 2/25/1937
Allegories of women and children; Labor and Fortune
Imp: BdF. 182x112mm. 5-Digit Serial Numbers and Larger Background
Sig 7, 2/25/1937
F.25 (P86b) 100 Francs Luc Olivier Merson
Allegories of women and children; Labor and Fortune
Imp: BdF. 182x112mm. Modified, signature changed to "Le Caissier Général"
Sig 4, 8/11/1938
Allegories of women and children; Labor and Fortune
Imp: BdF. 182x112mm. Modified, signature changed to "Le Caissier Général"
Sig 4, 8/11/1938
F.26.69 (P94) 100 Francs Sully
La France, Maucice de Sully; Sully-sur-Loire Castle
Imp: BdF. 178x90mm
Sig 4, 4/2/1942
La France, Maucice de Sully; Sully-sur-Loire Castle
Imp: BdF. 178x90mm
Sig 4, 4/2/1942
Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.27.4 (P101a) 100 Francs Descartes
René Descartes; Bronze Winged Victory
Imp: BdF. 160x92mm
Sig 4, 1/6/1944
René Descartes; Bronze Winged Victory
Imp: BdF. 160x92mm
Sig 4, 1/6/1944
Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.28.37 (P128d) 100 Francs Young Farmer with Oxen
Young farmer with oxen; Boating family
Imp: BdF. 130x85mm
Sig 8, 6/4/1953
Young farmer with oxen; Boating family
Imp: BdF. 130x85mm
Sig 8, 6/4/1953
Poughéon, R. INV (F)
F.29.1 (P87a) 300 Francs Ceres and Mercury
Imp: BdF. 138x88mm. This is the only BdF note with no printed date
Sig 4, 10/6/1938- 2/9/1939
Imp: BdF. 138x88mm. This is the only BdF note with no printed date
Sig 4, 10/6/1938- 2/9/1939
Serveau, C. INV (F)
F.30.34 (P66l) 500 Francs Bleu et Rose
Hercules and Mercury
Imp: BdF. 242x140mm
Sig 9, 1/29/1931
Same design as 500F Rose et Bleu type of 1842
Hercules and Mercury
Imp: BdF. 242x140mm
Sig 9, 1/29/1931
Same design as 500F Rose et Bleu type of 1842
Barré INV, Barré SC (F)
Cabasson INV, Pannemaker SC (B)
Cabasson INV, Pannemaker SC (B)
F.32.41 (P95b) 500 Francs Peace
Allegory of Peace with olive branch, Agriculture
Imp: BdF. 195x115mm
Sig 10, 10/1/1942
Allegory of Peace with olive branch, Agriculture
Imp: BdF. 195x115mm
Sig 10, 10/1/1942
F.34.5 (P129a) 500 Francs Chateaubriand
Author François-René Chateaubriand with muses
Imp: BdF. 141x92mm
Sig 10, 3/28/1946
Titles of many of his books on face and back
Author François-René Chateaubriand with muses
Imp: BdF. 141x92mm
Sig 10, 3/28/1946
Titles of many of his books on face and back
F.35.3 (P133a) 500 Francs Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo and the Pantheon where he is buried
Imp: BdF. 140x75mm. New series of smaller notes from BdF
Sig 11, 9/2/1954
Victor Hugo and the Pantheon where he is buried
Imp: BdF. 140x75mm. New series of smaller notes from BdF
Sig 11, 9/2/1954
F.38.46 (P90c) 1000 Francs Ceres and Mercury
Allegory of Banque de France; François Arago, and Louis Pasteur
Imp: BdF. 235x130mm. Type of 1927, Modified, signature changed to "LE CAISSIER GÉNÉRAL"
Sig 12, 4/18/1940
Allegory of Banque de France; François Arago, and Louis Pasteur
Imp: BdF. 235x130mm. Type of 1927, Modified, signature changed to "LE CAISSIER GÉNÉRAL"
Sig 12, 4/18/1940
F.39.3 (P96a) 1000 Francs Commerce and Industry
Allegories of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry
Imp: BdF. 195x118mm
Sig 12, 12/19/1940
Allegories of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry
Imp: BdF. 195x118mm
Sig 12, 12/19/1940
F.40.6 (P102) 1000 Francs Demeter
Statue of Demeter holding Hercules as a child; Bronze of Mercury
Imp: BdF. 190x115mm
Sig 10, 9/3/1942
Statue of Demeter holding Hercules as a child; Bronze of Mercury
Imp: BdF. 190x115mm
Sig 10, 9/3/1942
F.41.13 (P130a) 1000 Francs Bleu Clément Serveau
Allegories of the Goddess Minerva and Hercules
Imp: BdF. 172x95mm
Sig 10, 4/25/1946
Allegories of the Goddess Minerva and Hercules
Imp: BdF. 172x95mm
Sig 10, 4/25/1946
Serveau, C. INV (F)
F.42.22 (P134a) 1000 Francs Richelieu
Richelieu at the Palais Royal
Imp: BdF. 150x80mm
Sig 12, 10/4/1956
Richelieu at the Palais Royal
Imp: BdF. 150x80mm
Sig 12, 10/4/1956
F.43 (P76) 5000 Francs Flameng
Allegories symbolizing the strength of the Banque de France, research, labor and fortune
Imp: BdF. 256x128mm
Sig 13, 1/26/1918
Allegories symbolizing the strength of the Banque de France, research, labor and fortune
Imp: BdF. 256x128mm
Sig 13, 1/26/1918
F.46.8 (P97c) 5000 Francs Victoire
Woman wearing olive wreath holding statue of winged Victory
Imp: BdF. 230x125mm. Intaglio (face only) over Relief
Sig 12, 7/20/1939
Woman wearing olive wreath holding statue of winged Victory
Imp: BdF. 230x125mm. Intaglio (face only) over Relief
Sig 12, 7/20/1939
F.47.59 (P103e) 5000 Francs Empire Française
France with natives of the French community
Imp: BdF. 208x115mm
Sig 15, 3/20/1947
France with natives of the French community
Imp: BdF. 208x115mm
Sig 15, 3/20/1947
F.50.77 (P132d) 10,000 Francs Education
Imp: BdF. 221x120mm
Sig 11, 12/1/1955
Imp: BdF. 221x120mm
Sig 11, 12/1/1955
F.51.13 (P136b) 10,000 Francs Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte, Arc de Triomphe; Les Invalides
Imp: BdF. 172x92mm
Sig 14, 10/2/1958
Napoleon Bonaparte, Arc de Triomphe; Les Invalides
Imp: BdF. 172x92mm
Sig 14, 10/2/1958