Product Description:
MetalStacks proudly presents a rare and historically significant piece of World War II European history — this 1943 Banque de France 20 Francs "Pêcheur" (Fisherman) note, issued during one of the most turbulent chapters in French history. Dated October 7, 1943, and bearing serial number 260151062 with series designation B.105, this note circulated in France during the period of German Occupation, when the Banque de France continued to issue currency under severely constrained and politically compromised conditions.
(PSV 20)
The "Pêcheur" design — introduced in 1942 — is one of the most visually striking of all French wartime issues. The obverse features a powerful engraved image of a French fisherman in traditional working garb, hauling rope aboard his vessel against a backdrop of a harbor cityscape, rendered in rich earth tones of brown and rust. The reverse depicts a warm, pastoral scene of Breton women in traditional regional dress — one cradling a child — set against a rural French village with a stone cross and church tower. The reverse also bears the note's counterfeiting warning in French: "Le contrefacteur sera puni des travaux forcés à perpétuité" — "The counterfeiter will be punished with forced labor in perpetuity." Together, the imagery represents a deliberate evocation of traditional French culture and identity at a moment when France's national sovereignty was under severe pressure.
A Note on Condition
This note is offered in heavily circulated condition and shows honest wear consistent with over 80 years of age — including creasing, corner rounding, and edge wear. The note has been handled during actual wartime circulation, which is itself part of its historical story. Condition is accurately and fully reflected in the photographs provided, and as always at MetalStacks, what you see is exactly what you receive.
Presentation
This note is securely housed in a protective rigid currency holder and elegantly mounted within a wood display frame with a black matted background, ready for immediate display on a desk, shelf, mantel, or wall. The framed setup preserves the note while allowing full visibility of both its striking design and historical details. As with all MetalStacks offerings, the note has been carefully handled and verified for authenticity.
Because only one example is available, the exact note shown — including its distinct serial number and individual condition — is the note you will receive.
For additional details or collector inquiries, please contact MetalStacks at (561) 529-3001.