Banknote Billet France 100 francs 1968

Remarks:

Plusieurs épinglages, plis, traces de rouille (épinglages) et coupure en haut

The 100 francs Corneille banknote is one of the Banque de France issues that defined the era of the Fifth Republic. This note bears the date of 7 December 1967 and belongs to the alphabet series D.285, enabling its precise identification within the series.

The Corneille type takes its name from the famous French playwright Pierre Corneille (1606-1684), whose portrait adorns the note. This choice reflects the Banque de France's commitment to honouring the great figures of the national literary and cultural heritage. The portrait of the author of Le Cid and Polyeucte is rendered with the characteristic care of Banque de France engravings, combining fineness of line with precision of detail.

This 100 francs banknote belongs to the generation of old franc notes, issued before the widespread adoption of the so-called "heavy" franc introduced in 1960, although it continued to circulate in the following years. The official year of issue is 1968, while the date printed on the note itself is 7 December 1967, corresponding to the printing date or the decision to issue.

In terms of graphic design, notes of this type are distinguished by an elaborate composition incorporating ornamental motifs, complex guilloche patterns and security features typical of fiduciary printing of the period, intended to prevent counterfeiting. The colour schemes, watermarks and print quality bear witness to the expertise of the Banque de France workshops.

In its current state of preservation, this banknote stands as a direct testament to French fiduciary monetary production of the 1960s, and as such constitutes a reference document for collectors specialising in French paper numismatics of the 20th century.