Banknote Billet France 100 nf Napoléon Ier, Empereur de France, Roi d'Italie 1959

Remarks:

Plis, épinglages et coupures

The 100 Nouveaux Francs Bonaparte banknote was issued in 1959, as part of the French monetary reform introduced by General de Gaulle, who replaced the old franc with the new franc at a conversion rate of 1 new franc for 100 old francs. This series, identified under the reference série N.7, is one of the most iconic issues of the Banque de France from this period.

This banknote pays tribute to Napoleon I, Emperor of the French and King of Italy, a major historical figure whose political and military influence profoundly shaped Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. The choice of this personality to illustrate a denomination as significant as the 100 nouveaux francs reflects the importance given to the Napoleonic heritage in French culture and identity.

The banknote features refined artwork, characteristic of the Banque de France's productions of that era, with security elements and iconography directly linked to the Napoleonic world. The artistic quality of this type of banknote reflects the expertise of the engravers and printers of the Banque de France, who paid great attention to the details of portraits and decorative ornaments.

The face value of 100 nouveaux francs made it a high-value denomination at the time of its issue, representing the equivalent of 10,000 old francs. This banknote is part of a period of economic reconstruction in France, during which the stabilisation of the national currency was a fundamental issue.