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100 Francs - Luc Olivier Merson type 1906 with LOM
| Issuer | Banque de France |
|---|---|
| Year | 1908-1909 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Designer(s) | Luc Olivier Merson |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The lateral fields carry two allegorical intaglio vignettes: a blacksmith personifying Labour at the left and a standing female figure with a child bearing a cornucopia symbolising Fortune at the right, both framed within gilded moldings. The anti-counterfeiting warning drawn from Article 139 of the Penal Code is inscribed across the central area of the note. The designers' and engravers' credits are recorded in the lower margin. |
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| Protection description | Profile portrait heads of Ceres and Mercury |
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| Comments |
The Merson 100 Francs was France's prestige denomination for the better part of four decades, and the 1906 type — distinguished from later printings by the inclusion of Merson's initials "L.O.M." in the design — represents the earliest iteration of what became one of the most enduring banknote series in French history. Romagnoli's engraving work on both faces gave the note an unusually consistent visual quality; his hand is identifiable across the series.
The 1908–1909 date range reflects a brief initial production window before the type was reprinted without modification well into the 1930s, making period-accurate dating on surviving examples surprisingly important to collectors.