Banknote Billet France 200 francs Charles Montesquieu, écrivain et philosophe français 1983

Remarks:

2 épinglages, plis, tâche au dos du billet et 1 coupure dans la marge en bas

The 200 francs Montesquieu banknote was issued in 1983 by the Banque de France. It belongs to series A.015 and has a face value of 200 francs.

This banknote pays tribute to Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, an 18th-century French writer and philosopher, best known for The Spirit of the Laws and Persian Letters. A major figure of the Enlightenment, Montesquieu is particularly renowned for his theory of the separation of powers, which has profoundly influenced modern constitutional systems. His portrait appears on the obverse of the banknote, accompanied by graphic and typographic elements characteristic of Banque de France productions of that era.

From a graphic design perspective, this 200 francs banknote showcases the expertise of the Banque de France's printing works, featuring intaglio printing techniques typical of French banknotes of this generation. The security features integrated into production at the time are present, in line with the manufacturing standards of the 1980s. The banknote displays shades and ornamental patterns typical of French issues of this period, combining portrait, architecture and allegorical decoration.

This type of banknote was produced and put into circulation as part of French monetary policy, before the introduction of the euro in 2002, which brought an end to the legal tender status of franc banknotes. The banknote weighs 1 gram, which corresponds to the usual characteristics of cotton-paper fiduciary media used by the Banque de France. The 1983 200 francs Montesquieu banknote is today a collector's item representative of 20th-century French numismatics.