Belgian notes pre euro 01a - series 1994

For thise series of articles on Belgian banknotes, I start in reversed order.
This means, I will start with the last issued set before EURO.

This set consists of 5 banknotes depicting 19th and 20th century Belgian artists and one depicting the royal couple at the time (King Albert II and Queen Paola).

The lowest denomination is 100 BEF (Belgian francs) = € 2.48 face value.
All of the notes in this set are still exchangable at the national Bank of Belgium (BEF to Euro only).

100 BEF

100 Belgian francs 1994

The first note is dedicated to the painter James Ensor. Ensor was also a writer, composer, engraver and designer. He was born on April 13, 1860 in Ostend.
As a young talented artist, he entered the Brussels Academy of Art at the age of 17. But his non-conformistic and rebellious attitide made him leave the school "of short-sighted" 3 years later.
Masks are a common theme in his work, as well as the ecclesiastical and civil authorities who were often targeted in his works.
His masks also appear on the front side of the 100 francs note.

detail of 'Self-portrait with masks' (1889)

On the reverse side of the note, we see a beach scene - refering to his birth place, Ostend.

100 Belgian francs 1994 - reverse

detail 'Bathing in Oostende' (1890)

His most famous work : "Christ's Entry into Brussels" (1888) can be found in the J. Paul Getty museum in Malibu, USA.

The notes' measurements are : 139 by 76 mm.
It has many security features among two special ones : micro text and hidden images.

micro text, visible with magnifier

hidden images appear when the note is flipped sideways

 

more on this issue : https://www.nbb.be/doc/ts/publications/brochures/100en.pdf
to be continued...