Banknote France 50 Francs Jacques Coeur - 23-01-1941 Serial Z.37

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Jacques Cœur was a French merchant and businessman of the 15th century. He was born around 1395 in Bourges, France, and died in 1456. Jacques Cœur is primarily known for his success as a trader and for his role as a financier and advisor to Charles VII, the King of France.

At the height of his career, Jacques Cœur was one of the wealthiest and most influential merchants in France. He was involved in the trade of luxury fabrics, spices, and precious metals, which allowed him to amass a great fortune. He had trade relations with regions as distant as the Orient and North Africa.

Jacques Cœur was also appointed as the royal treasurer (argentier) to King Charles VII, meaning he was responsible for managing the royal finances. He helped modernize and streamline the state's financial operations while financially supporting the king's military campaigns, including during the Hundred Years' War.

However, Jacques Cœur fell out of favor in the late 1440s due to political rivalries and financial controversies. He was arrested and sentenced to death in 1451, but his sentence was commuted to exile. He spent several years in exile before dying in 1456 on Chios, a Greek island.