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

Remarks:

Plis, 3 épinglages et salissures

The 200 francs Montesquieu banknote is an issue of the Banque de France put into circulation in 1983, bearing the printing date 1982. It belongs to series Y.012 and displays a face value of 200 francs.

This banknote pays tribute to Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, an 18th-century French writer and philosopher, a major figure of the Enlightenment and author notably of The Spirit of the Laws, a founding work of the theory of the separation of powers. His portrait occupies a central place in the graphic composition of the note, underlining the importance of this thinker in French intellectual and political history.

The design of the banknote revolves around representations evoking the literary and philosophical world of Montesquieu, with ornamental compositions characteristic of French banknotes of this period. The dominant colours, in shades of brown and green, give this note a distinct visual identity within French fiduciary production of the 1980s. The typography and security features are representative of the technical standards of the Banque de France for that era, incorporating anti-counterfeiting devices specific to the manufacture of banknotes of this generation.

This banknote illustrates an important period in French monetary history, prior to the transition to the euro, during which the Banque de France chose to celebrate the great figures of the national cultural and intellectual heritage on its currency. The Y.012 series allows precise identification of the production batch of this specimen, essential information for collectors and specialists in French fiduciary numismatics.