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

Remarks:

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 is dated 1992 and corresponds to the print letter T.140, which allows its print series to be precisely identified.

This banknote pays tribute to Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, a major figure of the French Enlightenment, writer and philosopher born in 1689 and died in 1755. He is particularly known for his works Persian Letters and The Spirit of the Laws, the latter having profoundly influenced modern constitutional theories, notably through the concept of the separation of powers.

The obverse of the banknote features a portrait of Montesquieu, accompanied by architectural and decorative motifs evocative of the 18th century. The reverse incorporates iconographic elements related to the philosopher's work and era, including representations of the Château de La Brède, his residence in the Gironde. The colour palette of the banknote is dominated by blue and green tones, characteristic of this denomination.

This 200 francs banknote represents an intermediate denomination in the French monetary system of the time, positioned between the 100 francs and 500 francs notes. It remained in circulation until the introduction of the euro in the early 2000s, at which point franc banknotes gradually ceased to be legal tender.

The example described belongs to the category of collectible banknotes, as a testimony to the monetary and iconographic policy of the Banque de France during the second half of the 20th century. Its state of preservation and the precision of its serial number make it a relevant object of study for any collector specialising in contemporary French numismatics.