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.
B943g (
Allegories of Industry and Agriculture
- F.14.37
- 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
B945l (
Hercules and Mercury
- F.30.34
- 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”
B950a (
- 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
B951g (
Allegories of Women and Children; Labor and Fortune
- F.24.16
- 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
- Like B949a with notation “LOM 02” removed from bale
B951h (
- F.25.28
- P-86b
- 8/11/1938
- Sig 4
- Like B951g except signature title changed to “Le Caissier Général”
B952d (
Rose, Purple. Allegory of France; Dock worker carrying a sack up a ladder
- F.3.12
- 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
B952f (
- F.4.15
- P-83
- 11/28/1940
- Sig 4
- Like B952d except signature title changed to “Le Caissier Général”
B953d (
Blue. Effigy of the goddess Minerva; Peasant woman resting
- F.6.11
- 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
B953f (
- F.7.1
- P-84
- 2/2/1939
- Sig 4
- Like B953d except signature title changed to “Le Caissier Général”
B954a (
- F.11.01
- P-74
- Printer: BdF
- 9/22/1916
- 160 x 95mm
- Denomination in Blue
- Watermark: Bayard
- Duval, G. FEC
- Romagnol, C. SC
B956a (
Allegories symbolizing the strength of the Banque de France, Research, Labor and Fortune
- F.43.1
- 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
B957a (
- F.15.2
- P-77a
- Printer: BdF
- 4/2/1928
- 170 x 123mm
- Luc-Olivier Merson name in margin
- Watermark: Busts of two women
- Merson, L.O. INV
- Romagnol, C. SC
B957b (
- F.16.2
- P-80a
- 8/13/1931
- Sig 4
- Like B957a without Merson artist name
B958f (
- F.38.46
- P-90c
- Printer: BdF
- 4/18/1940
- 235 x 130mm
- Sig 12
- Watermark: Profiles of Ceres and Mercury
- Like B958 except signature title changed to “Le Caissier Général”
- Deloche, E. SC
- Walhain, C. FEC
B961c (
- F.18.38
- P-85b
- Printer: BdF
- 2/8/1940
- 155 x 90mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Bust of Greek Divinity
- Like B961 except signature title changed to “Le Caissier Général”
- Deloche, E. SC
- Serveau, C. FEC
B964c (
Woman wearing olive wreath holding statue of winged Victory
- F.46.8
- P-97c
Woman wearing olive wreath holding statue of winged Victory
- Printer: BdF
- 7/20/1939
- 230 x 125mm
- Intaglio
- Sig 12
- Signature title “LE CAISSIER PRINCIPAL”
- Watermark: Head of woman and branch
- Like B964b with Intaglio on face side only
B965a (
- 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
B968a (
Allegories of Science and Labor; Chemist looking through microscope
- F.12.12
- 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
B969a (
Jacques Coeur; Woman of Berry at the Palais de Bourges
- F.19.18
- 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
B970a (
La France, Maurice de Sully; Sully-sur-Loire Castle
- F.26.69
- 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
B971b (
Allegory of Peace with olive branch, Agriculture
- F.32.41
- P-95b
Allegory of Peace with olive branch, Agriculture
- Printer: BdF
- 10/1/1942
- 195 x 115mm
- Sig 10
- Watermark: Profile of woman
B972a (
Allegories of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry
- F.39.3
- P-96a
Allegories of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry
- Printer: BdF
- 12/19/1940
- 195 x 118mm
- Sig 12
- Watermark: Woman with crown of flowers
B973b (
Pyrenean shepherd and woman of Agenais
- F.5.7
- 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
B974b (
Miner; Peasant woman and child
- F.8.19
- P-99f
Miner; Peasant woman and child
- Printer: BdF
- 12/4/1947
- 118 x 75mm
- Sig 5
- Watermark: Joan of Arc
- Jonas, L. INV
B975b (
Fisherman and view of the Port de Concarneau; Women and child of Brittany
- F.13.14
- 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
B976a (
René Descartes; Bronze Winged Victory
- F.27.4
- P-101a
René Descartes; Bronze Winged Victory
- Printer: BdF
- 1/6/1944
- 160 x 92mm
- Sig 4
- Watermark: Head in profile
- Jonas, L. INV
B978a (
Statue of Demeter holding Hercules as a child; Bronze of Mercury
- F.40.6
- 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
B979a (
France with natives of the French community, Ports of the Basque coast, France and Rabat, Morocco
- F.47.59
- 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
B981c (
Astronomer Urbain Le Verrier; Neptune
- F.20.17
- P-127c
Astronomer Urbain Le Verrier; Neptune
- Printer: BdF
- 2/1/1951
- 120 x 78mm
- Sig 6
- Watermark: Head of Neptune
- Poughéon, R. INV
B982d (
Young farmer with oxen; Boating family
- F.28.37
- 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
B983a (
Author François-René Chateaubriand with muses; Titles of many of his books on face and back
- F.34.5
- 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
B984a (
Allegories of the Goddess Minerva and Hercules
- F.41.13
- 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
B987d (
- F.50.77
- P-132d
- Printer: BdF
- 12/1/1955
- 221 x 120mm
- Sig 11
- Watermark: Allegorical Bust
B988a (
Victor Hugo and the Pantheon where he is buried; Place des Vosges
- F.35.3
- 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
B989a (
Richelieu at the Palais Royal
- F.42.22
- 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
B992b (
Napoleon Bonaparte, Arc de Triomphe; Les Invalides
- F.51.13
- P-136b
Napoleon Bonaparte, Arc de Triomphe; Les Invalides
- Printer: BdF
- 10/2/1958
- 172 x 92mm
- Sig 14
- Watermark: Bonaparte