France - Revalued Francs

As of January 1, 1963, French notes are again printed with the denomination in "Francs" completing the devaluation process.

Banque de France

The third, and finally successful, French Central Bank is the Banque de France (BdF). It was formed by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800 and marked the return to the Franc, based on value of gold and silver once again. BdF has provided financial oversight (often called the "bank of banks") for all of France's territories through the years, coordinating with the central banks listed below, and stabilizing exchange rates from French Francs to CFA, CFP and now Euros. The Banque de France is one of the few central banks that actually prints its own banknotes, with facilities in Chamalières, France.

B1004a face
B1004a face
B1004a (
  • F.61.4
  • P-146a
) 5 Francs Pasteur
Louis Pasteur at the Pasteur Institute in Paris
  • Printer: BdF
  • 11/4/1966
  • 140 x 75mm
  • Sig 17

  • Watermark: Pasteur
(F)
B1005b face
B1005b face
B1005b (
  • F.62.19
  • P-147b
) 10 Francs Voltaire
Voltaire at the Tuileries Palace
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/6/1966
  • 150 x 80mm
  • Sig 17

  • Watermark: Voltaire
(F)
B1006f face
B1006f face
B1006f (
  • F.64.33
  • P-148f
) 50 Francs Jean Racine
Jean Racine at the Port Royal des Champs Abbey
  • Printer: BdF
  • 6/3/1976
  • 160 x 85mm
  • Sig 18

  • Watermark: Character from Andromaque
(F)
B1007f face
B1007f face
B1007f (
  • F.65.51
  • P-149f
) 100 Francs Pierre Corneille
Pierre Corneille, Versailles; View of Rouen
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/2/1976
  • 172 x 92mm
  • Sig 18

  • Watermark: Head of man with laurels; Helmeted man
(F)
B1008c face
B1008c face
B1008c (
  • F.63.20
  • P-150c
) 10 Francs Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz at the chapel in Les Invalides, Paris
  • Printer: BdF
  • 8/5/1976
  • 140 x 75mm
  • First BdF note printed by offset lithography (11/23/1972)
  • Sig 18

  • Watermark: Berlioz
(F)

Last update:

Web site, content and images © Dave Mills

jsLinkPrev jsLinkNext