Charles Walhain - Cérès et Mercure

Charles Albert Walhain

Charles Albert Walhain (French, 1877-1936) received the gold medal for French Artists in 1936.

Biography

Walhain is probably best known for his artwork for the 1927 Cérès et Mercure issue from Banque de France. This note was produced hurriedly to replace the 1000F Rose et Bleu banknote of 1889, which needed to be removed from circulation due to forgery. Theis banknote was not particularly beautiful, compared to most other French notes of the era, and the back even looks a bit incomplete. But it does signify the beginning of a new trend in French banknotes. It blends the allegorical characters seen on previous banknotes with actual historical figures (Ampere and Pasteur in this case) and working trades, a theme which would continue in France's banknotes.

B135b face
B135b face
French Indochina
B135b (
  • KM141b
  • P-48b
) 1 Piastre Marianne de Walhain
Brown, Blue on Tan.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927-31)
  • 149 x 93mm
  • Sig 5

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B108d face
B108d face
French Somaliland
B108d (
  • KM608d
  • P-6b
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
Blue, Red on Yellow.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927)
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B117a face
B117a face
French Somaliland
B117a (
  • KM624
  • P-11
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain, with Free France overprint
Blue, Red on Yellow.
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/1/1943
  • Sig 7
  • Series 63-74

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B205a face
B205a face
Morocco
B205a (
  • MK505
  • P-23Aa
) 5 Francs
  • 8/1/1922
  • with “Payables a vue...” text

  • Watermark: Lion
B313d face
B313d face
New Caledonia
B313d (
  • KM412d
  • P-36b
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
Mauve, Brown on Lt. Green.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1926)
  • 149 x 93mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B201b face
B201b face
New Hebrides
B201b (
  • KM701b
  • P-4b
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain, with Free France overprint
Mauve, Brown on Lt. Green.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927-31)
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B307d face
B307d face
Tahiti
B307d (
  • KM509d
  • P-11c
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
Orange, Rose on Lavender.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927)
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B952d face
B952d face
France
B952d (
  • F.3.12
  • P-72d
) 5 Francs Violet
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

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B958f face
B958f face
France
B958f (
  • F.38.46
  • P-90c
) 1000 Francs Ceres and Mercury
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

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