Banknote Billet Tahiti 100 francs 1961

This 100 francs banknote was issued in Papeete, the administrative capital of Tahiti, during a period spanning from 1937 to 1965. It is a numbered specimen 0245, making it a reference example used for control or official presentation purposes, distinct from notes intended for general circulation.

Specimens are banknotes produced by issuing authorities or printers to serve as comparison models, allowing banking institutions and exchange agents to authenticate notes in circulation. Their specific numbering and particular status give them significant documentary and historical value in the field of numismatics.

This banknote fits within the monetary context of French Polynesia under French colonial administration, a period during which Papeete played a central role in the financial and economic management of the archipelago. The long issuance period spanning nearly three decades bears witness to the stability of this type of banknote in the local monetary system before the introduction of the CFP franc (franc of the French Pacific Territories), which would gradually establish itself as the official currency of these territories.

As a specimen, this banknote now constitutes a rare numismatic document, allowing the study of the graphic, typographic and security features specific to the monetary issues of French Polynesia during the first half of the 20th century.