Banknote Billet France 100 francs 1940

Remarks:

3 épinglages, plis et traces

The 100 francs "Sully" type banknote dated January 25, 1940 belongs to a series issued by the Banque de France during a pivotal period in French history, on the eve of the Second World War. This banknote bears the series reference P.7043, allowing its precise identification within the issue.

This type of banknote pays tribute to Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, an iconic figure of the French monarchy, Superintendent of Finances under Henry IV and architect of the kingdom's economic recovery at the beginning of the 17th century. His portrait forms the central element of the banknote's graphic composition, in keeping with the Banque de France's tradition of associating its denominations with great figures from national history.

The 100 franc banknote represented a denomination of significant value in the French monetary system at that time. Issued in 1940, it bears witness to the particularly tense economic and political context France was experiencing, with general mobilisation and the imminent entry into the world conflict. Banknotes from this period are often characterised by varying states of preservation, linked to the exceptional historical circumstances of their circulation.

The typography, decorative motifs and security features present on this banknote are characteristic of the Banque de France's printing techniques during this period. The chromatic nuances, generally dominated by warm tones blending ochres, browns and blacks, as well as the intaglio engraving details, reflect the expertise of the printing workshops of the era. The P.7043 series constitutes an essential documentary reference for collectors specialising in 20th-century French banknotes, allowing this specimen to be precisely located within the chronology of Sully type issues.