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, rural French scenes and important figures of science, industry and politics. Clément Serveau is the most famous and prolific artist and best represents this period.
F.2.29 (
- P-70
- Printer: BdF
- 7/2/1915
- 125 x 80mm
- Sig 2
- Astrological sign "Leo" for July
- Watermark: Woman's head in profile, 'Banque de France' text from back of note
F.3.12 (
Rose, Purple. Allegory of France; Dock worker carrying a sack up a ladder
- P-72d
Rose, Purple. Allegory of France; Dock worker carrying a sack up a ladder
- Printer: BdF
- 5/8/1928
- 125 x 80mm
- Sig 3
- Watermark: Soldier from the Marseillaise de Rude
For notes with this same design, see Marianne de Walhain omnibus
F.4.15 (
Rose, Purple. Allegory of France; Dock worker carrying a sack up a ladder
- P-83
Rose, Purple. Allegory of France; Dock worker carrying a sack up a ladder
- Printer: BdF
- 11/28/1940
- 125 x 80mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Soldier from the Marseillaise de Rude
For notes with this same design, see Marianne de Walhain omnibus
- Like with signature title changed to 'Le Caissier Général'
F.5.7 (
Pyrenean shepherd and woman of Agenais
- P-98b
Pyrenean shepherd and woman of Agenais
- Printer: BdF
- 10/30/1947
- 100 x 65mm
- Sig 5
- This is the smallest banknote issued by Banque de France
- Watermark: Bust of Bernard Palissy
- Serveau, C. INV (F)
F.6.11 (
Blue. Effigy of the goddess Minerva; Peasant woman resting
- P-73d
Blue. Effigy of the goddess Minerva; Peasant woman resting
- Printer: BdF
- 10/23/1926
- 138 x 88mm
- Sig 3
- Watermark: Mercury
- Duval, G. INV
- Romagnol, C. SC (F)
F.7.1 (
Blue. Effigy of the goddess Minerva; Peasant woman resting
- P-84
Blue. Effigy of the goddess Minerva; Peasant woman resting
- Printer: BdF
- 2/2/1939
- 138 x 88mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Mercury
- Like with signature title changed to 'Le Caissier Général'
- Duval, G. INV
- Romagnol, C. SC (F)
F.8.19 (
Miner; Peasant woman and child
- P-99f
Miner; Peasant woman and child
- Printer: BdF
- 12/4/1947
- 118 x 75mm
- Sig 5
- Watermark: Joan of Arc
- Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.11.01 (
- P-74
- Printer: BdF
- 1916
- 160 x 95mm
- Denomination in Blue
- Watermark: Bayard
- Duval, G. FEC
- Romagnol SC (F)
F.12.12 (
Allegories of Science and Labor; Chemist looking through microscope
- P-92b
Allegories of Science and Labor; Chemist looking through microscope
- Printer: BdF
- 2/20/1941
- 160 x 97mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Bust of woman in front of flag
- Deloche, E. SC
- Serveau, C. INV (F)
F.13.14 (
Fisherman and view of the Port de Concarneau; Women and child of Brittany
- P-100c
Fisherman and view of the Port de Concarneau; Women and child of Brittany
- Printer: BdF
- 3/10/1949
- 130 x 80mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Anne de Bretagne
- Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.14.37 (
Allegories of Industry and Agriculture
- P-64g
Allegories of Industry and Agriculture
- Printer: BdF
- 7/12/1924
- 178 x 123mm
- Watermark: Woman's Head
- Dupuis, D. FEC
- Duval, G. FEC
- Robert, J. SC (F)
F.15.2 (
- P-77a
- Printer: BdF
- 1927
- 170 x 123mm
- Luc-Olivier Merson name in margin
- Watermark: Busts of two women
- Merson, L.O. INV
- Romagnol, C. SC (F)
F.16.2 (
Child Mercury, allegories of Science and Labor
- P-80a
Child Mercury, allegories of Science and Labor
- Printer: BdF
- 8/13/1931
- 170 x 123mm
- Sig 4
- Starting with this note in 1930, BdF no longer mentions the artist's name in the margin of its banknotes.
- Watermark: Busts of two women
- Like without Merson artist name
- Merson, L.O. INV
- Romagnol, C. SC (F)
F.18.38 (
- P-85b
- Printer: BdF
- 2/8/1940
- 155 x 90mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Bust of Ceres
- Like F.17 with signature title changed to 'Le Caissier Général'
- Deloche, E. SC
- Serveau, C. FEC (F)
F.19.18 (
Jacques Coeur; Woman of Berry at the Palais de Bourges
- P-93
Jacques Coeur; Woman of Berry at the Palais de Bourges
- Printer: BdF
- 1/8/1942
- 145 x 90mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Berrichone wearing a hat
- Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.20.17 (
Astronomer Urbain Le Verrier; Neptune
- P-127c
Astronomer Urbain Le Verrier; Neptune
- Printer: BdF
- 2/1/1951
- 120 x 78mm
- Sig 6
- Watermark: Head of Neptune
- Poughéon, R. INV (F)
F.24.16 (
Allegories of Women and Children; Labor and Fortune
- P-78c
Allegories of Women and Children; Labor and Fortune
- Printer: BdF
- 2/25/1937
- 182 x 112mm
- Sig 7
- 5-Digit series number in larger Cartouche
- Watermark: Ceres and Mercury in profile
F.25.28 (
Allegories of Women and Children; Labor and Fortune
- P-86b
Allegories of Women and Children; Labor and Fortune
- Printer: BdF
- 8/11/1938
- 182 x 112mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Ceres and Mercury in profile
- Like with signature changed to 'Le Caissier Général'
F.26.69 (
La France, Maurice de Sully; Sully-sur-Loire Castle
- P-94
La France, Maurice de Sully; Sully-sur-Loire Castle
- Printer: BdF
- 4/2/1942
- 178 x 90mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Ceres and Mercury in profile
- Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.27.4 (
René Descartes; Bronze Winged Victory
- P-101a
René Descartes; Bronze Winged Victory
- Printer: BdF
- 1/6/1944
- 160 x 92mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Head in profile
- Jonas, L. INV (F)
F.28.37 (
Young farmer with oxen; Boating family
- P-128d
Young farmer with oxen; Boating family
- Printer: BdF
- 6/4/1953
- 130 x 85mm
- Sig 8
- Watermark: Bust of young man
- Poughéon, R. INV (F)
F.29.1 (
- P-87a
- Printer: BdF
- 10/6/1938
- 138 x 88mm
- Sig 4
- This is the only BdF note with no printed date
- Watermark: Profile of Mercury
- Serveau, C. INV (F)
F.30.34 (
Hercules and Mercury
- P-66l
Hercules and Mercury
- Printer: BdF
- 1/29/1931
- 242 x 140mm
- Sig 9
- Same design as 500F Rose et Bleu type of 1842
- Counterfoil
- Watermark: 500F/Cinq cents Fr/BANQUE DE FRANCE
F.32.41 (
Allegory of Peace with olive branch, Agriculture
- P-95b
Allegory of Peace with olive branch, Agriculture
- Printer: BdF
- 10/1/1942
- 195 x 115mm
- Sig 10
- Watermark: Profile of woman
F.34.5 (
Author François-René Chateaubriand with muses; Titles of many of his books on face and back
- P-129a
Author François-René Chateaubriand with muses; Titles of many of his books on face and back
- Printer: BdF
- 3/28/1946
- 141 x 92mm
- Sig 10
- Watermark: Profile of a woman
- Armanelli, R. SC
- Marliat, A. SC
- Poughéon, R. INV (F)
F.35.3 (
Victor Hugo and the Pantheon where he is buried; Place des Vosges
- P-133a
Victor Hugo and the Pantheon where he is buried; Place des Vosges
- Printer: BdF
- 9/2/1954
- 140 x 75mm
- Sig 11
- New series of smaller notes from BdF
- Watermark: Bust of Victor Hugo
- Piel, J. SC
- Serveau, C. INV (F)
F.38.46 (
Allegory of Banque de France; François Arago, and Louis Pasteur
- P-90c
Allegory of Banque de France; François Arago, and Louis Pasteur
- Printer: BdF
- 4/18/1940
- 235 x 130mm
- Sig 12
- Watermark: Profiles of Ceres and Mercury
- Like F.37 with signature title changed to 'Le Caissier Général'
- Deloche, E. SC
- Walhain, C. FEC (F)
F.39.3 (
Allegories of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry
- P-96a
Allegories of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry
- Printer: BdF
- 12/19/1940
- 195 x 118mm
- Sig 12
- Watermark: Woman with crown of flowers
F.40.6 (
Statue of Demeter holding Hercules as a child; Bronze of Mercury
- P-102
Statue of Demeter holding Hercules as a child; Bronze of Mercury
- Printer: BdF
- 9/3/1942
- 190 x 115mm
- Sig 10
- Watermark: Hermes
F.41.13 (
Allegories of the Goddess Minerva and Hercules
- P-130a
Allegories of the Goddess Minerva and Hercules
- Printer: BdF
- 4/25/1946
- 172 x 95mm
- Sig 10
- Watermark: French warrior, Venus
- Serveau, C. INV (F)
F.42.22 (
Richelieu at the Palais Royal
- P-134a
Richelieu at the Palais Royal
- Printer: BdF
- 10/4/1956
- 150 x 80mm
- Sig 12
- Watermark: Richelieu
- Piel, J. SC
- Serveau, C. INV (F)
F.43.1 (
Allegories symbolizing the strength of the Banque de France, Research, Labor and Fortune
- P-76
Allegories symbolizing the strength of the Banque de France, Research, Labor and Fortune
- Printer: BdF
- 1/26/1918
- 256 x 128mm
- Sig 13
- Counterfoil
- Watermark: Head of woman in profile (3 times)
- Flameng, F. INV
- Robert, J. SC (F)
F.46.8 (
Woman wearing olive wreath holding statue of winged Victory
- P-97c
Woman wearing olive wreath holding statue of winged Victory
- Printer: BdF
- 7/20/1939
- 230 x 125mm
- Taille Douce (recto seulement) sur Typographie
- Sig 12
- Watermark: Head of woman and branch
- Like F.45 with Intaglio on face side only
F.47.59 (
France with natives of the French community, Ports of the Basque coast, France and Rabat, Morocco
- P-103e
France with natives of the French community, Ports of the Basque coast, France and Rabat, Morocco
- Printer: BdF
- 3/20/1947
- 208 x 115mm
- Sig 15
- Watermark: Profiles of French, African and Asian women
F.50.77 (
- P-132d
- Printer: BdF
- 12/1/1955
- 221 x 120mm
- Sig 11
- Watermark: Allegorical Bust
F.51.13 (
Napoleon Bonaparte, Arc de Triomphe; Les Invalides
- P-136b
Napoleon Bonaparte, Arc de Triomphe; Les Invalides
- Printer: BdF
- 10/2/1958
- 172 x 92mm
- Sig 14
- Watermark: Bonaparte