10 Francs - Berlioz type 1972 uniface

The Berlioz 10 Francs replaced a note that had itself only entered circulation in 1963 — France cycled through its smaller denominations quickly during this period as inflation steadily eroded the bill's purchasing power. By the time this series was withdrawn, the 10 Franc piece in coin form had already taken over most of its practical function, making the note increasingly redundant before it was ever formally discontinued.

Fontanarosa designed and Jubert engraved a relatively brief-lived issue; the series ran just two years before the denomination shifted permanently to coin. The "uniface" designation in some references reflects a simplified reverse treatment rather than a truly blank face in the strict sense.