500 Francs - type 1863 black indexes modificated

The "type 1863" designation covers a long-running series that underwent several quiet modifications across its printing life — the "black indexes" variant refers to the hand-stamped or printed series letters appearing in black rather than the coloured indexes used on earlier impressions. By the 1880s, Banque de France was still leaning heavily on mid-century engraving work: the plate design drew on contributions from Barre, whose name is more commonly associated with French coinage dies, and Pannemaker, primarily known as a wood engraver who worked extensively for illustrated press publications.

Notes of this type were withdrawn progressively as newer 500 Franc types entered circulation in the late 1880s. Surviving examples with legible black index letters and intact watermark are the ones worth examining closely — the indexing system is the only field that distinguishes individual print batches within the type.