1 nouveau franc 1960
About This Note
This is a PMG 65 EPQ graded 1 Nouveau Franc on 50 Francs banknote from Saint Pierre & Miquelon, issued in 1960 by the Caisse Centrale de la France d'Outre-Mer. The note features an attractive multi-color design with a classical portrait on the obverse and allegorical figures on the reverse, both framed by ornate orange and cream borders. Despite visible age-related patina and horizontal overprint lines characteristic of this series, the note remains well-preserved with no major tears or creasing, making it a desirable example of this French colonial currency conversion note.
Common. While this is a colonial-era banknote from a small territory, conversion notes from the 1960 nouveau franc reform were issued in significant quantities across all French overseas territories to facilitate the currency transition. The PMG 65 EPQ grade represents a well-preserved example, but the Pick catalog lists four variants (P-30a, P-30as, P-30b, P-30s) for this base denomination, indicating multiple printing runs and reasonable availability in the numismatic market. Notes of this type and era typically trade in modest ranges, reflecting their common status despite their historical interest.
This conversion note represents the 1960 transition period when France revalued its currency from the old franc to the nouveau franc (new franc) at a rate of 100 old francs to 1 new franc. Saint Pierre & Miquelon, as a French overseas territory, participated in this monetary reform through notes issued by the Caisse Centrale de la France d'Outre-Mer, which managed currency circulation in France's colonial and overseas possessions. The classical allegorical imagery on both sides reflects the French tradition of using Marianne and other symbolic figures to represent French values and colonial presence.
The obverse features a bearded male figure wearing a wide-brimmed colonial hat in left profile, identified as Belain d'Esnambuc, a 17th-century French naval officer and colonial founder of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. To the right of the portrait is a detailed engraving of a multi-masted sailing ship, symbolizing the maritime heritage and colonial trading history of the territory. The reverse displays classical allegorical female figures in the style of Marianne, with one figure shown in left profile wearing a headwrap, alongside architectural imagery suggesting a fortress or colonial settlement structure. Both sides feature elaborate ornamental borders with repeating circular and geometric patterns in orange and cream, complemented by intricate fine-line engraving throughout the design. The overall color palette includes cream, orange, pink, green, blue, brown, and gray.
FRONT SIDE: 'CAISSE CENTRALE DE LA FRANCE D'OUTRE-MER' (Central Treasury of Overseas France) / 'CINQUANTE FRANCS' (Fifty Francs) / 'SAINT-PIERRE-ET-MIQUELON' (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) / 'CONTRE-VALEUR DE' (Exchange value of) / '1 NOUVEAU FRANC' (1 New Franc) / 'LE DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL' (The Director General) / 'BELAIN D'ESNAMBUC' (Belain d'Esnambuc - historical colonial figure) / Serial number '073947906' / Plate reference 'P.30' / 'W. FEL FEC.' (Made/engraved by W. Fel) / 'HOURIEZ SC.' (Designed/sculpted by Houriez). REVERSE SIDE: '50' (Denomination numerals in corners) / 'CAISSE CENTRALE DE LA FRANCE D'OUTRE-MER' (Central Treasury of Overseas France) / 'SAINT-PIERRE-ET-MIQUELON' (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) / 'LA RÉUNION' (The Reunion - referring to another French overseas territory included in the design).
Intaglio (engraved) printing on watermarked paper, executed by W. Fel as engraver with design work by Houriez. The fine line work, intricate border patterns, and allegorical details are characteristic of high-security banknote production from the French colonial-era security printers. The horizontal black overprint lines visible across both sides appear to be deliberate overprint security markings or validation lines applied during or after the printing process.
This note is cataloged as Pick 30b, one of four known variants of the 1 Nouveau Franc on 50 Francs conversion note for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. The 'b' designation typically indicates a specific printing or signature variant within the series. The visible serial number '073947906' and plate reference 'P.30' are consistent with the cataloged Pick 30b variety. The horizontal black overprint lines are a characteristic feature of this series, distinguishing it from potential non-overprinted variants. Without access to the full comparative data for all four variants (P-30a, P-30as, P-30b, P-30s), the specific distinguishing feature of the 'b' variety cannot be definitively stated, but this note matches all documented characteristics of the Pick 30b variety.
