Banknote France 100 Francs - Corneille - 04-07-1974 - Serial H.804

pin holes, folds, stains

The 100 francs Corneille banknote is a French banknote issued by the Banque de France. The example presented here is dated 4 July 1974 and belongs to series H.804.

This banknote takes its name from the French playwright Pierre Corneille (1606-1684), one of the greatest authors of French classical literature, particularly known for his tragedies such as Le Cid and Horace. The choice of representing iconic figures from French culture and history on banknotes was a common practice of the Banque de France at the time, reflecting a desire to root the national currency in the country's cultural heritage.

The obverse of the banknote features the portrait of Pierre Corneille, framed by graphic elements characteristic of the intaglio printing techniques used by the Banque de France. The reverse features ornamental and allegorical compositions, also produced using high-precision printing processes designed to protect the banknote against counterfeiting.

This banknote has a face value of 100 francs, the official currency of France before the introduction of the euro in 2002. It belongs to a period of active circulation of the French franc during the 1970s, a decade marked by significant economic transformations in France and Europe.

The Corneille type represents one of the iconic series of 20th-century French numismatics. The banknote weighs 1 gram, corresponding to the standard weight of banknotes of this generation, manufactured on specific security paper incorporating various security features characteristic of Banque de France issues of that era.