Banknote Billet France 100 francs 1940

Remarks:

4 épinglages, plis et traces

The 100 francs Sully banknote dated January 25, 1940 belongs to an iconic series issued by the Banque de France during the period preceding the German occupation. This note bears the serial number P.7068, allowing its precise identification within the production of that era.

The Sully type takes its name from Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, finance minister to King Henry IV and a major historical figure in the French economy of the early 17th century. His portrait features prominently on this banknote, lending it a strong historical and symbolic dimension, characteristic of the iconographic choices made by the Banque de France for its high-denomination notes.

The banknote displays a graphic composition typical of French interwar productions, combining elaborate decorative elements, security watermarks and refined typography. The face value of 100 francs made it a significant denomination in the French monetary system of the time, representing considerable purchasing power for ordinary users.

Issued in 1940, this banknote bears witness to a pivotal period in French history, just a few months before the collapse of the Third Republic and the establishment of the Vichy regime. Notes from this series circulated in a particularly troubled economic and political context, making them today first-rate historical witnesses for collectors and monetary historians.

The Sully series was printed on several dates during the years 1939 and 1940, and examples dated January 1940, such as this one, belong to the last regular issues before the monetary upheavals linked to the Second World War. This banknote thus represents a prime piece for any collection focused on 20th-century French numismatics.