Banknotes in old francs issued between 1900 and 1957

The novelty of this early twentieth century is the entry into circulation of the first multicolored banknote, the 100 francs Type 1906 Luc-Olivier Merson. With the First World War, the notes issued by the Bank of France are moving towards a symbolic warrior and patriotic. The bills reflect a new realistic artistic style that gradually departs from the allegorical figures that dominated in the nineteenth century. In the 1930s, the modernization of printing and security processes was accompanied by ageneralization of color emissions. The period of the Second World War is confirmed by the current of realistic themes and the appearance of the first famous characters on the front of many notes. The post-war period, on the other hand, is dominated by a complete change caused by a great upheaval of style which sees the emergence of the first so-called "modern" bills. This trend then intensified until the peak of the French school of the "banknote portrait" in the 1950s.