Assignaat van 125 livres, 1793-1794 1793 - 1794

This Assignat of 125 livres was made in France around 1793-1794 by Domaines Nationaux, out of paper. While seemingly a simple piece of paper, this Assignat banknote is deeply embedded in the social and political upheavals of the French Revolution. Its material - cheap paper - speaks volumes about its purpose: mass production. Printed with simple techniques, likely engraving or etching, it was designed for wide circulation among the populace. The very act of printing these notes involved a vast amount of labor, from the paper makers to the typesetters and press operators. The design, with its stark typography and revolutionary slogans, reflects the ideals of the Republic, yet also hints at the economic instability of the time. The text threatens counterfeiters with death, while promising to reward informers, revealing the climate of mistrust, and the pressures of mass consumption that permeated the new social order. It is a fascinating reminder that even the most humble materials can be charged with historical significance.