Banknote France 100 Francs - Luc Olivier Merson - 30-07-1915 - Serial A.2950

Remarks:

 épinglages, plis, salissures 

This French banknote with a face value of 100 francs, dated July 30, 1915, belongs to series A.2950. The front of the banknote features allegories of Agriculture and Commerce, placed on either side, each accompanied by a child. Vegetal decorations and fruits embellish the composition, enhanced by gilded moldings. The Latin inscriptions include the denomination "BANQUE DE FRANCE", the value "CENT FRANCS", and the promise of payment "PAYABLES EN ESPECES, A VUE, AU PORTEUR". The names of the artists involved, "LVC OLIVIER MERSON DEL ROMAGNOL SC", indicate Luc Olivier Merson as the designer and Cesare Abramo Romagnoli as the engraver.

The back of the banknote depicts personifications of Labor, represented by a blacksmith on the left, and Fortune, depicted by a woman and a child holding a cornucopia on the right. Gilded moldings also frame this scene. The inscriptions again include "BANQUE DE FRANCE", the value "100 FR", and a legal warning: "L'ART. 139 DU CODE PENAL PUNIT DES TRAVAUX FORCES CEUX QUI AURONT CONTREFAIT OU FALSIFIE LES BILLETS DE BANQUES AUTORISES PAR LA LOI, AINSI QUE CEUX QUI AURONT FAIT USAGE DE CES BILLETS CONTREFAITS OU FALSIFIES". The signatures "LOM", "LVC OLIVIER MERSON DEL F.", and "FLORIAN ET ROMAGNOL SC" identify Luc Olivier Merson as the designer, Frédéric Florian and Cesare Abramo Romagnoli as the engravers.

The banknote's watermark reveals the profile heads of Ceres and Mercury, adding an element of security and authenticity. The banknote is printed in Latin. Cesare Abramo Romagnoli and Frédéric Florian participated in the engraving of this banknote, while Luc Olivier Merson created the design.