1947 France 50 Francs Banknote Pick Number 127b Urbain Le Verrier Choice Extremely Fine or Much Better
Description: A beautiful and rather rare choice extremely fine or much better banknote from France. This is the October 2, 1947 Fifty francs or Cinquante Francs currency note. It is made of light, thin and crisp paper and retains very strong embossing. This beautiful and very modernistic banknote, which preceded the issuance of the new francs, has a red, blue, and multicolored design over a white background on the front. It shows the image of Urbain Le Verrier (According to Wikipedia Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier was a French mathematician who specialized in celestial mechanics and is best known for his part in the discovery of the planet Neptune) holding a compass at right of the front. The back, which has the same color scheme as the front, with a bit more blue, has Neptune God of The Sea in Roman Methology. He is laying down with his arm resting on the head of a sea creature and holding a trident with the date 1846, presumably when Le Verrier discovered the planet. This is a rather rare banknote with a very intricate and colorful design. This particular note has the serial number 43949 which is displayed once in black on the front. It is series B.85 and has two signatures. It is dated 2 October 1947 (G.2-10-1947.G) on the front. The note has a watermark showing what we believe is a bearded man with a headdress. Please carefully review the scan presented as it is part and parcel of our description.
Date: G.2-10-1947.G
Printer: Issued by the Bank of France.
Size: The banknote measures ~5 11/16" by ~3 1/16".
Pick Number: P 127b.
Condition: I would grade this banknote as a choice extremely fine or better with all the details being very well preserved. It is a very attractive note showing signs of very light handling if any. Has what looks like two light vertical folds (they could also be an artifact of the printing or handling by bank cashiers as opposed to being signs of circulation) in the center and some light creasing along the edges. The paper is clean and bright with original sheen. Corners are intact and squared with the slightest evidence of rounding if any. The edges are intact and show no signs of wear. The not is clean with no appreciable soiling, no stains, no tears, no splits, and no graffiti. The note retains strong embossing from the printing. The note has several pinholes at the left side when looking at the front. This of course is a result of the French habit of stapling banknotes to the bills being paid. This is a beautiful rare note which would make a great addition to your collection of French banknotes. Please see photo for additional condition information.
