Twenty years ago to the day, on February 18, 2002, the franc ceased to be legal tender. Beyond the sentimental value of these old coins and notes, they are no longer exchangeable at the Banque de France for ten years.
These collectibles, some resell them between 20 and 40 euros… And even 3,000 euros when the banknote has a defect, a particularity! At flea markets; you can resell your parts, at the rate of 10 euro cents per kilo.
In all, 55 million small denominations still sleep in French homes, which is more than one half a billion euros. A sum that the State has recovered by ending the exchange of currency.
Has this changeover to the euro to augment the costs ? It is an idea that still remains tenacious. Inflation is not linked to the euro. Rates did not soar with the arrival of money, on the contrary, according to INSEE: “from 2002 to 2016, consumer prices increased by 1.4% on average per year. This inflation is lower than that of the previous fifteen years, + 2.1% on average between 1986 and 2001“, writes the institute. The euro, common currency, makes it possible to maintain stability, to limit inflation.