Banknote Billet France 100 francs 1941

Remarks:

Plusieurs épinglages, plis et salissures

The 100 francs "Sully" type banknote is one of the characteristic issues of the troubled period France went through between the end of the Third Republic and the beginning of the Vichy regime. This banknote bears the date of 28 December 1939 and belongs to series F.6136.

The "Sully" denomination refers to Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, finance minister under Henri IV and an emblematic figure of French economic management at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. His portrait adorns this banknote, reflecting the French tradition of associating monetary issues with prominent historical figures.

This 100 francs banknote was issued in 1941 by the Banque de France, an institution then subject to the constraints of the Occupation. The date printed on the banknote, 28 December 1939, corresponds to the authorisation date for the issue of this type, while its actual circulation extended over several years, thus explaining the discrepancy with the real year of issue of 1941.

The Sully type was produced in a context of severe economic tension, marked by the restrictions of the Second World War and the shortage of raw materials. These banknotes, like all issues of this period, bear witness to the difficulties in sourcing quality paper and inks, making them precious historical artefacts beyond their numismatic value.

Series F.6136 allows for the precise identification of this banknote within the overall production of the Sully type, facilitating its chronological and geographical attribution within the framework of a rigorous numismatic inventory. The face value of 100 francs represented a significant sum at the time in the French wartime economic context.