| I acquired this beautiful note from a dealer in the Netherlands. It can only be called pristine condition. |
| David Block wrote me with some interesting information about counterfeiting: |
| One of the darker sides of war is the counterfeiting of the enemy's paper money... Napoleon had the Austrian notes counterfeited, and although the official correspondence contains a letter from him to Francis stating that he had abandoned the idea after the treaty of peace was signed, the 'unpublished' correspondence contains a letter from him to Fouche or Savary (I forget which) explaining that the counterfeiting project would continue, since in peacetime as well as during wars the Austrians were using their money to increase their military strength. |
| I have talked with a paper money dealer named Ted Uhl and corresponded with the famous paper money expert Albert Pick about the Napoleonic counterfeits, which do in fact exist (and I have specimens of both the French issues). Ted stated that the counterfeits are always in extremely fine condition and the genuine notes well worn. Albert said that the slight difference in color is one indication. The later Austrian issue (1808, I think) used an anti-counterfeiting device, mated printing plates impressed simultaneously on face and back of the notes; the French successfully copied that issue too. |
| Given these comments it would appear that this note might be a counterfeit! I'm contacting the dealer I bought it from to see what his opinion might be. I actually have no problem with it being a counterfeit; kind of adds to the fun. |
