₣50 — Fifty Francs
The artwork
Front: Jean Racine in a full periwig, turned three-quarters to the left, in a wine-red coat with a loose white cravat. Behind him, spread across the middle ground, the buildings of the abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs, where he was schooled, set among wooded hills. Rococo scrollwork frames the left edge above a shield bearing a swan; a spray of flowers and ribbon fills the right. "Banque de France" runs along the top, "Cinquante Francs" below.
Back: The same face again, reversed, this time set against the ruined towers and curtain wall of the château at La Ferté-Milon in the Aisne, Racine's birthplace. The masonry is drawn in warm browns against a pale sky, with trees and a low riverbank carrying the eye across. The ornamental borders and floral garlands repeat the front's eighteenth-century decorative vocabulary, with the large figure 50 in the corners.
In circulation
The Racine fifty was issued from the early 1960s through the mid-1970s, this example dated 2 April 1970. It was superseded by the 50-franc note bearing Maurice Quentin de La Tour, introduced in 1976, and the older design was steadily pulled in as the new issue spread.
Details
- CurrencyFranc (₣)
- DenominationFifty Francs
- Collectedon the France journeys, 1991–2019
- IssuerBanque de France
- Series50 Francs Racine — dated B.2-4-1970.B.
- SignatureThree hands: Le Contrôleur Général, Le Caissier Général and Le Secrétaire Général
- WatermarkHead of Jean Racine