Antoine de St. Exupery - did his image make the transfer from the 50 franc note, to some other euro currency?
Apr 10th, 2004, 05:20 AM
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Antoine de St. Exupery - did his image make the transfer from the 50 franc note, to some other euro currency?
with the finding of his plane, I am now curious. I saved some 50 franc notes, and am curious to know if they honored him on any of the euros.
Apr 10th, 2004, 05:55 AM
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The ECB does not recognise authors (or composers, or scientists, or buildings, or animals, or flowers or anything)of a recognisable nationality on its notes or coins.
There's an important reason for this. Apart from the standard nationality symbol on one side of the coins (such as the monarch's head in the monarchies), no symbolism on any note or coin is identifiable as belonging to one nation. Nor is any likely to be for decades - possibly centuries.
The EU intends that at least 25 countries should eventually be in the Eurozone. There aren't 25 denominations of notes and coins. So inevitably any nation-specific symbolism means some nations are left off. Political suicide in those countries for the government of the day.
There's an important reason for this. Apart from the standard nationality symbol on one side of the coins (such as the monarch's head in the monarchies), no symbolism on any note or coin is identifiable as belonging to one nation. Nor is any likely to be for decades - possibly centuries.
The EU intends that at least 25 countries should eventually be in the Eurozone. There aren't 25 denominations of notes and coins. So inevitably any nation-specific symbolism means some nations are left off. Political suicide in those countries for the government of the day.
Apr 10th, 2004, 09:02 AM
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thanks! I thought I had heard something to that effect. just checking. rather poignant, don't you think? I wonder how long it will take de St. Exupery to slowly leave the collective French consciousness, now that he's no longer on their money.
I do find it funny that they have a bridge that KINDA looks like the Pont du Gard on one of their notes!
I do find it funny that they have a bridge that KINDA looks like the Pont du Gard on one of their notes!
Apr 10th, 2004, 09:12 AM
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Well, being on the banknotes isn't the only way authors get remembered.
Isn't he compulsory for the bac? Given the amount of him I had to read for A level, it would be pretty miserable to think French teenagers were spared him.
Isn't he compulsory for the bac? Given the amount of him I had to read for A level, it would be pretty miserable to think French teenagers were spared him.
Apr 11th, 2004, 06:43 PM
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Don't worry. St-Exupery won't leave our consciousness, because he wrote "Le petit prince" and essentially all french children have read it (Actually, I stil reread it from time to time. I also can't count how many times I gave it away. I probably buy a copy or two each year.
Beside, our banknotes used to change quite often, so St-Exupery only appeared on them during some years.
Beside, our banknotes used to change quite often, so St-Exupery only appeared on them during some years.
