Currency of France 200 French Francs banknote of 1989 Montesquieu

France money currency French Franc euro Montesquieu banknote
France banknotes 200 French Francs Montesquieu banknote 
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 Bank of France - 200 French Francs banknote
Currency of France 200 French Francs Montesquieu banknote of 1989, issued by the Bank of France - Banque de France.
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French Franc - former national currency of France until the adoption of the euro in 2002.
Euro exchange rate: 200 francs are the equivalent of 30 euros 49 euro cents (fixed rate of 6.55957 francs for 1 euro)

Obverse: Portrait of French writer, Charles Louis de Secondat (Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu) (marble bust of Montesquieu by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne), right next to the coat of arms of La Brede Secondat.
On the left side, you can see an allegorical female figure hold a shield symbolizing the Law and a badge symbolizing his masterwork "L'Esprit des Lois" ("The Spirit of Laws" 1748), the major work of the philosopher. We also note two raised dots to facilitate recognition of the banknote by the blind.

Reverse: the same head of Montesquieu and the statue of Sulla. Background in a Persian style; An evocation of the "Lettres Persanes" (Persian Letters) (1721); "Dialogue de Sylla et d’Eucrate" (A Dialogue between Sylla and Eucrates) (1724); The Château de la Brède castle (Gironde) where Montesquieu was born;

Watermark: the same portrait of Montesquieu.
The dimensions are 172 mm x 92 mm.
The dominant colors are green tinged brown.
The design is the work of by artist Pierrette Lambert, who had already created design the 5 francs Pasteur and 50 francs Racine, and engravers Jacques and Claude Jubert Durrens.


The 200 francs Montesquieu is a French banknote created August 20, 1981 by the Bank of France and issued on 7 July 1982. This note was replaced by the 200 francs banknote Gustave Eiffel .
The last issue of 200 French francs banknote, from the date of first issue 1864 "200 francs noir". The choice of a philosophers of the Enlightenment is not new and is a continuation of 10 francs Voltaire banknote.

This banknote printed polychrome intaglio is the last of the second series of "creative and famous scientists" by the Banque de France and which include Berlioz, Debussy, Quentin de La Tour, Delacroix and Pascal.

It is part of the tradition of banknotes "commemorating famous people who have contributed to the formation of the historical heritage of France."

200 francs Montesquieu was printed from 1981 to 1994.
This 200 francs notes was withdrawn from circulation on 1 April 1998 and ceased to be legal tender from 31 March 2008, after which it can no longer be exchanged against the euro.

French Banknotes
1968-1997 Issue

 200 Francs Montesquieu     500 Francs Blaise Pascal



Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu
Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (18 January 1689 – 10 February 1755), generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, was a French social commentator and political thinker who lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers, which is implemented in many constitutions throughout the world. He did more than any other author to secure the place of the word despotism in the political lexicon, and may have been partly responsible for the popularization of the terms feudalism and Byzantine Empire.


Château de la Brède
The Château de la Brède is a feudal castle in the commune of La Brède in the département of Gironde, France.
The castle was built in the Gothic style starting in 1306, on the site of an earlier castle. It is surrounded by water-filled moats and an English garden, in the centre of a Bordelais vineyard. Despite modifications over the centuries, it has kept its character as a fortress.
The philosopher Montesquieu (full title: Charles Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu) was born, lived and wrote the majority of his works here. Visitors may see his library (though the books have been transferred to the library in Bordeaux) and his bedroom, both preserved as they were in the 18th century.
At her death in 2004, the Countess of Chabannes, a descendant of Montesquieu and last owner of the château, bequeathed her belongings, including the castle, to the Foundation named after her.
The castle is open to visitors from Easter to 11 November. It is classed by the French Ministry of Culture as a monument historique.