Banknote Billet France 100 francs 1968

Remarks:

Plusieurs épinglages, plis et salissures

The 100 francs Corneille banknote is a specimen issued by the Banque de France, belonging to the series put into circulation from 1968 onwards. The specimen presented here bears the date of 2 January 1976 and the series letter C.923, making it possible to precisely identify its print run and its place within the official numbering of the Banque de France.

This banknote pays tribute to Pierre Corneille, a French playwright of the 17th century, a major figure of French classicism and author of, among others, Le Cid, Horace and Cinna. The choice of this literary figure illustrates the Banque de France's desire to highlight the cultural and intellectual heritage of the nation on its banknotes.

From a graphic standpoint, the banknote features the portrait of Corneille as the main effigy, accompanied by decorative and allegorical elements related to the literary and theatrical world. The dominant colours, typographic ornaments and security patterns characteristic of the Banque de France's production of that era are also visible. The reverse of the banknote completes the iconographic composition with representations related to the playwright's work and era.

This type of banknote, produced as part of French monetary policy before the transition to the euro, is today a collectible item appreciated by numismatists and paper money enthusiasts. The 100 francs denomination represented a significant value in the French monetary system of the time.

The series letter and number C.923, combined with the date of 2 January 1976, allow collectors to precisely situate this specimen within the chronology of issues of this type ? an important criterion for the evaluation and classification of this banknote within a specialised collection.