Banknote Billet France 500 francs Blaise Pascal 1983

Remarks:

Plusieurs épinglages, marques de rouille et plis

The 500 francs Pascal banknote is an issue of the Banque de France bearing the date of 5 August 1982 and belonging to series S.163. It is part of the series of 20th-century French banknotes paying tribute to great national intellectual and scientific figures.

This banknote is dedicated to Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), a French mathematician, physicist, philosopher and theologian, whose work on atmospheric pressure, probability calculus and the arithmetic machine left a lasting mark on the history of science. The choice of this personality to illustrate a 500 francs denomination reflects the Banque de France's desire to associate its monetary issues with France's intellectual and scientific heritage.

The obverse of the banknote features a portrait of Blaise Pascal, accompanied by complex patterns characteristic of the intaglio printing used by the Banque de France for its banknotes of this era. The reverse also incorporates iconographic elements related to Pascal's work and period, including finely engraved architectural and scientific representations. The dominant colours of the banknote revolve around green and brown hues, giving the whole a sober and rigorous aesthetic.

This type of banknote was issued from 1968 onwards and remained in circulation until the early 1990s, before being gradually replaced by new issues. Series S.163 constitutes a precise identification element allowing this banknote to be placed within the production chronology of the denomination. The indicated year of issue is 1983, while the date printed on the banknote itself is 5 August 1982, these two dates corresponding respectively to the official release into circulation and the manufacturing date of the sheet.