Reference Information

This web site is developed and owned by Dave Mills, an avid collector and researcher of the area. Thanks to Madison, Robin Frost, and to Lin (Octa) 林昱龍 – www.numisdragon.com. for providing additional banknote images. Thanks to Scott Guye for providing much of the translation of this site to French, and to Pawel Zielinski and Marcin Piotrowski for the translation to Polish.

Banknote Page Listings

Note that this icon catalog select in a banknote page heading will bring up the entire catalog for the country (where available), as opposed to the default display of only those notes in the collection. Entire countries are skipped in "collection view" if I don't have any banknotes in it. Other options in the heading are the View Signatures button, which brings up the signature table for the country, and the catalog sort icon button, which provides for sorting by popular catalog numbers.

You may see and icons on banknote listings and signature tables. Clicking on will expand the list and provide more details, will remove the detail. Holding the shift key while expanding will expand all details on the page.

As is usual in catalog listings of varieties of a type, duplicate information is not repeated for subsequent varieties. For example if the listing for variety 25a states "signature 3", it can be assumed that variety 25b also has signature 3 unless mentioned otherwise.

Abbreviations and Definitions

INV: (Latin: invenit; French: a inventé) the original artist
DEL: (Latin: delineavit; French: a dessiné), producer of the definitive sketch of the design
SC: (Latin: sculpsit; French: a sculpté), engraver of the plate (or other medium for printing)
FEC: (Latin: fecit; French: a fait), "he made it" - a broader term used when one person has the role of both INV and DEL

The terms Relief (also known as Typography), Intaglio (fr. Taille Douce), Lithography and Offset may be mentioned with reference to the printing technique used for a particular banknote. See The Creation of a French Banknote for details of these printing methods.

Parts of a Banknote

English French Definition
Face (F), Back (B) Recto (F), Verso (B)

The two sides of a banknote. These terms are preferred by the banknote community rather than Obverse and Reverse, the coin collecting terms.

Type Type

A banknote's Type is defined by a specific design and denomination, and is given a number in the catalog. In French catalogs, a specific type might look like: "5 Francs (violet) - Type 1917 - No 3", describing catalog number 3.

Variety Variété

A Variety is a more detailed definition of a Type, recognizing different dates, signatures, numbering, etc. There is no agreement among catalogers though on what specific differences qualify for a variety designation, though specialist catalogs typically list more varieties, making cross-referencing the numbers between catalogs a bit tricky.

Author Auteur

Technically Auteur translates to "Author", but the term is used to reference any of the personnel that designed and engraved the plates for a banknote.

Release Date Date d'Emission

The date the banknote was first put into banks and available to the public. Note that this has periodically been vastly different from the Creation Date (see France 5000F Flameng with 20 year span between creating and releasing the note).

Creation Date Date de Création

The date a banknote was printed, or at least the officially authorized date. Distinct from Release Date. This date is often but not always printed on the note. The notation ND means the creation date was not printed on this banknote, and a following date in parenthesis, e.g. "ND (1941)" provides the Release Date, if known. Usually a range of creation dates exist for any Type, though for French BdF notes it is usually a thursday.

Serial Number, Block, Series Numéro de Contrôle, Ordre, Serie, Alphabet

Terms relating to the various numbers printed on banknotes. See details of BdF numbering model.

Watermark Filigrane

Watermarks are a security device created during the paper manufacturing process by varying the thickness of the paper.

Embossing Timbre Sec, Effet Relief

Relief, raised or lowered areas of the surface of a banknote, is called Embossing. It is typically felt with fingertips, but depending on the cause can be seen with the eye. Causes are ink in relief from intaglio printing, numerals of the serial number added in a later print, or in the most dramatic case by dies pressed into the paper.

Security Thread, Strip Fil de Sécurité, Strap

A thin (~1mm) strip embedded in the banknote paper as a security mechanism. Wider strips with varying designs and often reflective materials, can also be applied to the surface of the paper.

Margins Marges

The typically white border of paper around the banknote's design area.

Cartouche Cartouche

From architecture, a Cartouche is an ornamental framing device used to highlight text. BdF often used a cartouche to frame serial numbers and dates.

Sheet or Roll Printing Imprime a Feuille, en Continu

Prior to 1989, BdF printed its banknotes in sheets. In 1989, the 100F Delacroix was the first note converted to run on the new Goebel machine, printing on continuous roll paper.

Printer Imprimerie, Imp

The company that physically prints banknotes. In France this is a part of BdF at its facility in Chamalières, France. Smaller countries typically outsource the printing function.

Signature, Sig Signature, Sig

A Signature is the script signature on a banknote of a person in some position of authority at the Central Bank. It is preceded by the person's title, such as "Le Directeur Général". Note that "Sig" may refer to a single signature, the set of signatures on the note, or a signature number as a lookup in a signature table.

Provisional Issue Emission Provisoire

A Provisional Issue is a note, or set of notes, issued "for the time being" in that it's understood that the normal method of issuance is not currently available. That is often due to war-time activities or other political turbulance.

Set Gamme, Ensemble

A Set is a group of notes, typically issued around the same time with stylistically similar designs. Often collected or sold together as "a complete set".

Denomination Coupure

A note's Denomination is its face value. A set of notes might be issued in a series of denominations, e.g. 5F, 10F, 20F, 50F.

Fake Faux

A note is fake, or Counterfeit, if it has been made by someone outside the usual printing authority. This could be for several reasons, mainly being either Contemporary Counterfeits if made in the same timeframe as the original, for purposes of creating money to spend, or Modern Counterfeits, which are usually intended to sell to unwitting collectors. These modern counterfeits often are made by overprinting or modifying real banknotes.

Error Fauté

The French version of Error refers to printing faults not to circulation damage. It would include missing print colors, offset prints, paper folds, etc.

Wavy Paper Gondolé (Papier)

Many French notes from the 20th century are printed on thin wavy paper. Do not confuse naturally wavy paper with damage. In fact it is confirmation that the note has not been pressed.

Counterfoil Talon

The counterfoil is a hand-cut edge on a banknote, leaving a stub as the remainder of the note with the bank. Usually there is writing (e.g. "Banque de France") placed vertically along which the cut was made. The counterfoil is a security technique, allowing later matching of the note against the stub. These counterfoils were used on early mandats of the 18th century, higher face value notes of the Bleu et Rose era, up to the 5000F Flameng type of 1918.

Overprint Surcharge

An overprint is a text or graphical notation printed on an existing banknote design, usually at a later date from the initial printing. It typically denotes a revalued denomination, a different issuing authority, or cancellation.

Remainder Non Émis

A Remainder is a fully printed banknote of regular usage that has not been placed into service. It will typically be missing signatures, dates, and serial numbers, and of course not have been in circulation. Remainders come to existence when the central bank has printed more banknotes than were needed for this issue, or a new design replaced an older one that still had new stock available. The French refer to a remainder as "Non Émis", which has a broader connotation that includes new designs that never were released.

Terms Relating to Condition of a Banknote

Understanding the ways a note can be damaged, whether during regular use or in attempts to "repair", is critical when buying. Many types of damage are much more easily seen with the note in hand, outside of any plastic holder. Damage to notes only seen in photos or scans can be impossible to spot, even disregarding the possibility of purposeful deception.

English French Definition
Pressed Aplati

Pressing a banknote to minimize folds and bends is unfortunately common. Recognizing it is rather simple though if you have the note in hand. A note so fresh as to have no folds should have some amount of embossing, and the paper should be crisp. A pressed note will have no folds but tend to be perfectly flat and floppy.

Paperclip Trombone

Embossed mark and possibly rust from a paperclip.

Foxing Rousseurs

Foxing is yellow, brown or reddish staining on the paper. May be mold, dirt, oil or organic material on the paper.

Rust Rouillé

Rust staining on the paper caused by staples, pins or paperclips.

Crisp Craquant

Meaning the paper feels like it just came off the press. Contrast with "Pressed" and "Handling".

Fold, Crease Pli Marqué

A fold is the most common detraction for a banknote. In French "marqué" means the fold is creased with no possibily of flattening.

Bundle Fold Pli de Liasse

A loose uncreased fold typically down the center of the note. Could also be from a rubber band around a bundle of notes.

Handling Manipulation

This is a general term meaning that the paper is somewhat worn and not perfectly crisp.

Counting Mark, Bent Corner Trace de Comptage, Coin Corné

A small bend in a corner of a banknote is called a Counting Mark. This should not be a creased fold.

Repaired Réparé

Any post-printing modification of the paper (patching holes, re-attaching splits, etc). See also "cleaned".

Slightly Wrinkled Légèrement Froissé

Given BdF's use of thin paper, it is not uncommon that wrinkles can be in fresh crisp banknotes, as printed. This does detract from the note.

Pinhole Épinglage

Small Pinholes, whether made from pins or staples, are not unusual in older banknotes as those devices were often used to collect bundles of notes together during commercial use. Some notes were even stapled by the issuing bank, and are never seen without holes. In worse cases, the holes may have some rust transfered to the paper.

Tear Déchirure

A torn banknote is not good, though at least the whole note is still in one piece.

Missing piece Manque

Literally, a piece of the paper missing. This is serious damage.

Spot, Soiling Tache, Saliassure

This could dirt or other debris on the banknote.

Pencil Mark Trace de Crayon

It's surprising how often pencil is used to write on banknotes. It even was the case that collectors and dealers would write additional information about a note in its margin.

Tape Scotch

The notation Tape may be for existing cellophane tape or residue glue from removed tape.

Split Fentes

A Split is a break in the paper due to wear at a fold. Typically this will be down the center of a note, the most common folding point.

Cleaned Nettoyé

Banknotes are sometimes chemically Cleaned to remove foxing or dirt, resulting in a note that is typically whiter than expected for its condition. This usually requires pressing as well, so a pressed note that smells unusual and looks too bright has most likely been cleaned.

Mounted Monté, Collée

A banknote that has been Mounted in a frame or to cardboard for display. This usually damages the note, either with glue on the back or corner holders.

Hole Trou

A hole (larger than a pinhole).

Catalogs and Reference Documents

While I am a collector and enthusiast of the area, I am not the primary researcher of the information on this site. The information on the site is provided by the authors of the reference books in this section and plenty of Internet research.

France: Les Billets Français de la Banque de France et du Tresor 1800-2002 (F, VF), by Claude Fayette

France: Les Billets Français du Tresor (VF), by Jean Paul Vannier & Claude Fayette (information in this catalog is now included in Les Billets Français... above.

France: Les Assignats et les Papiers-Monnaies Emis par l'Etat au XVIIIe Siecle (L), by Jean Lafaurie

France: Catalogue Général des Assignats Français (Ass), detailed information on French assignats, by Jean-Luc Buathier

France: Assignat, a well-written article by Harrison W. Mark on the Assignats of the French Revolution

France: Les Billets Française de la Banque de France, by Maryse Souque et al, pub. Banque de France

France: Trois Siecles de Billets Français, by Michel Daspre

France: Les Billets des Chambres de Commerce (JP), and its companion Les Billets de Nécessité des Communes et des Villes 1914-1918, by Jean Pirot

France: French ATM Test Notes (Echantillons) (DIS), by Jean-Luc Buathier

French Indochina (Indochina, Djibouti, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides): Les Billets de la Banque de l'Indochine (KM), by Maurice Kolsky and Maurice Muszynski, Pub. Victor Gadoury

French Overseas Territories (Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Pierre et Miquelon, Tahiti, New Caledonia, New Hebrides): Les Billets des D.O.M. - T.O.M., by Maurice Kolsky (K)

Southeast Asia: The Catalog and Guidebook of Southeast Asian Coins and Currency, by Howard Daniel, III. The first volume of this 5-volume set addresses the banknotes and coins issued under French colonial rule

French Africa: Les Billets Africains de la Zone Franc (LK), by Roger LeClerc and Maurice Kolsky (unfortunately difficult to find)

North Africa: Les Billets du Maghreb et du Levant (MK), by Maurice Muszynski and Maurice Kolsky

Paper-Money Inflation in France, a paper published in 1876 by Andrew White on the French Assignat issues that began in 1790. Fascinating reading.

World: Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (P, SCWPM), three volumes: General, Modern and Specialized Issues, Pub. Krause

World: The Banknote Book (B, TBB), digital catalog quickly becoming the next standard world catalog, by Owen Linzmayer

Wiki: Both the French and English versions of Wikipedia have provided useful content to this site on monetary systems, banks, and artists.

Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia: Coins and Banknotes of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, by Zlatko Viscevic. This is the definitive volume of the region, with an updated edition for 2010.

For grading banknotes, see the the IBNS Grading Standard.

Printing Firms

See The Emergence of Modern Business Enterprise in France, 1800-1930 by Michael Smith for interesting reading on printing in France.

Banque de France (BdF), founded in 1800 at the time of modernization of France's banking and finance systems, and has since printed all banknotes for France.

François-Charles Oberthür (FCO), French printing firm producing modern banknotes including many for African states alongside Banque de France.

Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Co., Boston MA, USA

DuPont et Cie, French "Industrial" publishing/print shop, opened in 1818 as a low cost book printing firm, with facilities in Paris and Clichy.

Chaix, Paris, Founded by Napoleon Chaix after leaving DuPont in 1945.

Thomas De La Rue (TDLR), English printing firm, printed some of the French occupation notes.

Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. (BWC), English printing firm, printed some notes for the French Community.

Professional Organizations

Association Française pour l'Étude du Papier-Monnaie - French banknote association

The International Bank Note Society - an international association of world paper money collectors

Digital Banknote Galleries and Sites

Le Site du Collectionneur - French site with many images and technical details

Bourse du Collectionneur - French site with much descriptive text as well as items for sale

Numista - A site to publish your collection, with lots of banknotes (and coins) and details

Numismondo - Catalog of world banknotes

Bank Note Museum - Catalog of world banknotes

Books and Supplies

Fayette-Editions - Specialized French catalogs & references

Editions Gadoury - Specialized French catalogs & references

Krause Publications - General worldwide catalogs

Denly's of Boston - Melinex (Mylar D equivalent) banknote holders