Description

France. 5000 Francs Flameng 21.1.1918. Very nice banknote with bright colours, not washed or pressed. Pinholes, tiny tear, VF. Often hailed as the most beautiful French banknote, this bill has a uniquely eventful history. From 1891, the Banque de France planned a new four-color series to replace its two-color notes. For the 50- and 100-franc designs, Léon Glaize was initially approached, but his work was abandoned in favor of Luc-Olivier Merson. A 1,000-franc model was also commissioned from François Flameng and approved in 1896. Strangely, his design was never issued as a 1,000-franc note but reappeared much later—only in 1918—recast as a 5,000-franc bill. Internal disputes delayed its use for years: critics found the Art Nouveau style too whimsical or insufficiently “monetary,” and the Bank feared accusations of favouring large denominations. Only the pressures of World War I pushed the institution to finally print Flameng’s 5,000-franc note in 1918, though it was held in reserve and rarely circulated. The famous blue-and-pink 1,000-franc note remained in use until replaced in 1929. In 1938, when the new 5,000-franc Victoire appeared, the long-stored Flameng note was also released as backup—printed in only 600,000 copies, all dated 1918. Its circulation ended in June 1945, when it was superseded by the 5,000-franc Union française. Inv: G25168