Following on from the Ceres 50 Franc note, which had seen France through the depression years, by the summer of 1940, a week before the armistice, the first of the new Jacque Coeur (1395-1456) notes were printed.
Featuring Lucien Jonas' fine rendering of the merchant to the left, in pensive mood, the background shows a representation of Le Palais de Bourges built in the 14th Century. The reverse features a peasant from the Berrichone with fauna.
The panel on the obverse bottom features Coeurs Motto; "To the brave hearts nothing is impossible" - words that were truly tested over the next Four years.
Another nice touch, as a pun on the surname, is the heart-shaped watermark, consisting of the same peasant lady as on the reverse, this time in profile.
50 Francs at the outbreak of World War Two was approximately Five Shillings & 8d (28p)/US$1.35.
The print run consists of 20 dates, ranging from 13-6-1940 through to 15-5-1942, the one truly rare date being the penultimate issue of 5-2-1942, with a print run of just 100,000 notes. The issue ceased circulating with the French governments decision to call in all banknotes of 50 Francs and above in June 1945 - a measure aimed partly at the thriving black market.
Add comment
Comments