Banknote Billet France 50 francs 1937

Remarks:

Plis et traces d'usure

The 50 francs Cérès and Mercury banknote is a French banknote issued in 1937, belonging to an iconic series of the Third Republic. This banknote was put into circulation by the Banque de France during a period of intense economic and political activity in Europe.

On the obverse, the banknote features an allegory of Cérès, the Roman goddess of harvests and agriculture, depicted with her traditional attributes, symbolising the wealth and fertility of French lands. The graphic composition also incorporates ornaments typical of the interwar artistic style, blending classical rigour with decorative elements characteristic of the period.

On the reverse, Mercury, the Roman god of commerce and travellers, is depicted with his caduceus and winged helmet. This association of the two deities illustrates the fundamental economic values that France wished to highlight: agricultural production and trade.

The banknote is produced using the intaglio printing techniques characteristic of the Banque de France, ensuring a high level of detail in the engravings and enhanced resistance to counterfeiting. The dominant tones revolve around shades of blue, green and brown, typical of French banknotes of this period.

The face value of this banknote is 50 francs, which represented a significant sum in France during the 1930s. The banknote belongs to a series that saw several vintages between the 1930s and 1940s, with the 1937 vintage being particularly sought after by collectors due to its age and relative rarity depending on its condition.

This banknote stands as a direct testament to the monetary and artistic history of interwar France, reflecting the iconographic and technical choices of the Banque de France at that time.