20 Francs type 1871

This 20 Francs type was introduced during one of the most turbulent stretches in modern French history — the Franco-Prussian War, the fall of the Second Empire, the siege of Paris, and the Commune uprising all fell within or immediately preceded its short production window. The Banque de France itself came under extraordinary pressure during this period, suspending specie payments in August 1870 as Prussian forces advanced; the note circulated in an economy where metallic coin had effectively vanished from daily commerce.

Chazal's design was engraved by Charles Maurand, a printmaker better known for his reproductive work in the illustrated press. The combination was competent but not especially refined by the bank's own standards, which is partly why this type was retired relatively quickly once stability returned.