50 francs 1944
Market Prices
6 salesAbout This Note
This is an Allied Military Currency 50 Francs note from 1944, representing the provisional French franc currency issued during the liberation of France. The note displays the characteristic turquoise front with prominent magenta denomination markings and ornate baroque-style decorative borders, while the reverse features a cream background with fine line engraving and a central oval cartouche containing 'FRANCE'. In Fair condition, the note exhibits expected circulation wear including creases, folds, yellowing, and foxing consistent with its age and historical use during the postwar period.
Common. eBay market data demonstrates consistent pricing in the $3-$16 range for F-VF condition examples from 2009-2019, with more recent sales (2025) at $9.99 for EF condition. The catalog value for F grade is approximately $6-$16 range, and the availability of multiple dated sales transactions over more than a decade indicates regular market circulation. Pick 122b represents a standard issue with no known print run restrictions or recall status, making this a common collectible banknote despite its historical significance.
Issued by the Allied Forces in 1944 following the liberation of France, this banknote represents a critical transitional currency during the restoration of French sovereignty. The inscription 'SERIE DE L'AN CINQUANTE FRANCE' and the prominent display of 'LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE' on the reverse reflect the reestablishment of French republican values after German occupation. The absence of 'Émis en France' on this 2nd Issue variant indicates the provisional nature of this Allied-issued currency, which was temporarily used before the full restoration of the Banque de France's monetary authority.
This Allied Military Currency note features a distinctive Art Deco-influenced design with geometric security elements rather than traditional portraiture. The front showcases an intricate turquoise background with flowing wave patterns as the primary security feature, complemented by ornate baroque-style corner flourishes in gray and black. The denomination appears in bold magenta at top and bottom center. The reverse presents a more austere design with fine parallel line engraving in blue and red/pink tones covering a cream/beige background, centered by a beveled-edge oval cartouche containing 'FRANCE' in blue letters. This design emphasizes geometric and ornamental security features rather than portrait imagery, typical of temporary military currency issued during wartime conditions.
Front: '50' and 'CINQUANTE FRANCS' (Fifty Francs) - denomination markers in magenta; 'SERIE DE L'AN CINQUANTE FRANCE' (Series of the Year Fifty France); 'FRANCE' (France). Back: 'FRANCE' (France) - displayed prominently in the central oval cartouche; 'LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE' (Liberty Equality Fraternity) - the French republican motto. Serial number observed: 33583633 with series indicator '2'.
Intaglio (engraved) printing on paper, utilizing fine line engraving and geometric wave patterns as primary security features. The intricate parallel line patterns on the reverse and the complex decorative borders throughout indicate professional security printer work typical of Allied military currency production. The sharp definition of the baroque flourishes and the precise geometric patterns suggest steel plate engraving with careful registration between color separations (magenta, blue, and background colors).
This note is identified as Pick 122b, the 2nd Issue variant specifically distinguished by the absence of 'Émis en France' text on the front, differentiating it from the 1st Issue (Pick 122a). The observed serial number '33583633' with series indicator '2' is consistent with the 2nd Issue production. No additional notable varieties or significant overprints are evident in the visual analysis, though collectors should note the distinction between 1st and 2nd Issue variants when cataloging examples of this Allied Military Currency denomination.
