Banknote Billet France 50 nf Henri IV, Roi de Navarre et de France 1959

Remarks:

Plis, épinglages, tâches

The 50 Nouveaux Francs Henri IV banknote is a French banknote issued in 1959, belonging to the F.12 series. It was part of the French monetary reform that accompanied the introduction of the new franc, replacing the old franc at a conversion rate of 1 new franc for 100 old francs.

This banknote takes its name from the central figure depicted on it: Henri IV, King of Navarre and France, an iconic figure in French history, known in particular for the Edict of Nantes in 1598 and for his role in pacifying the kingdom after the Wars of Religion. His portrait is the dominant iconographic element of this banknote.

The Banque de France is the issuing institution of this banknote, which reflects the particular care given to the artistic design of French banknotes of that era. The notes in this series are recognised for the quality of their engraving and the richness of their illustrations, characteristic of the productions of the Imprimerie de la Banque de France, renowned for its technical expertise.

The face value of 50 new francs represented a significant denomination at the time of its issue, intended to facilitate everyday transactions within the renewed monetary system of the Fifth Republic. This banknote belongs to a historical series that marks a pivotal period in French monetary history, namely the transition to a new monetary unit driven by the economic policy of General de Gaulle and his government.

Now withdrawn from circulation, this banknote holds considerable interest for collectors and numismatic historians, as a tangible witness to an era and a major monetary reform in the economic history of 20th-century France.