Sometimes referred to as the “father of science fiction”, Jules Gabriel Verne was a French novelist, poet, and playwright known for his novels usually set in the second half of the 19th century highlighting the technological advances of the time. In collaboration with publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel, Jules Verne wrote the Voyages Extraordinaires, a series of adventure novels including Around the World in Eighty Days, the Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas..
In July 1848, Verne went to Paris from Nantes, where his father wanted him to pursue law studies. Despite his father’s insistence, Verne believed his true calling was in writing. The pressure peaked in January 1852 when his father offered him a law practice in Nantes. Verne made a firm decision to prioritize his literary career and declined the job.
Verne’s novels have greatly influenced both literary and scientific works. Writers such as Marcel Ayme, Roland Barthes, and Jean-Paul Sartre were inspired by him. Scientists and explorers like Richard E. Byrd, Yuri Gagarin, and Konstantin Tsiolkovsky also acknowledged Verne’s impact. He is credited with inspiring the steampunk genre, which romanticizes 19th-century technology in science fiction.
Jules Verne on Banknotes
To commemorate the famous novelist, KBA Giori of Switzerland issued the KBA Giori Jules Verne test note in 2005, highlighting the author’s works and achievements. Jules Verne’s portrait is shown on the note’s obverse, along with a sextant, a globe, a hot air balloon, the fictional character Captain Nemo, and the original cover of the French version of the Around the World in 80 Days. The reverse side is a representation of Captain Nemo, the Mysterious Island, and the Hetzel logo announcing the Voyages Extraordrinaires book. Designed by one of the world’s leading banknote designers Renato Manfredi, the 160 x 72 mm test banknote was created for Banknote Horizons.
Jules Verne’s portrait is also on the obverse of the Zero Euro souvenir banknote issued by Euro Banknote Memory in 2021. The Zero Euro banknote’s reverse depicts the Brandenburg Gate, the Belém Tower, the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum in Rome, the Sagrada Familia, the Manneken Pis, and Mona Lisa. Zero Euro banknotes are designed by Richard Faille in collaboration with Monnaie de Paris.
