Banknote Billet France 200 francs Charles Montesquieu, écrivain et philosophe français 1986

Remarks:

3 épinglages, Plis et usure

The 200 francs Montesquieu banknote belongs to a series issued by the Banque de France from 1986 onwards. The example presented here bears the date 1990 and the alphabetical reference H.081, corresponding to a series letter used to precisely identify the print batch to which this banknote belongs.

This banknote pays tribute to Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, a major figure of French thought in the 18th century. A jurist, writer and philosopher, Montesquieu is particularly known for his seminal work The Spirit of the Laws, published in 1748, in which he developed the theory of the separation of powers, a concept that would lastingly influence modern constitutional systems.

The obverse of the banknote features a portrait of Montesquieu, accompanied by graphic elements evoking his intellectual world and his era. The reverse presents architectural and symbolic representations linked to the philosopher's work and life, including references to the Château de La Brède, his residence in the Gironde. The dominant tones of the banknote revolve around shades of blue, red and brown, characteristic of this issue.

Like all Banque de France banknotes of this period, this 200 francs note incorporates several security features typical of the printing techniques of the time, including a watermark visible by transparency, depicting the portrait of Montesquieu. The dimensions and print quality reflect the standards of French fiduciary production at the end of the 20th century.

This type of banknote was gradually withdrawn from circulation with the introduction of the euro in 2002, making it a representative collectible of contemporary French fiduciary numismatics.