When did this currency go out of circulation?

N#206018

Hi. I saw an image of a bill matching this one, that an Allied soldier - a US private in England - is believed to have been given prior to D-Day. It is clearly not the Allied Military Currency so I'm wondering how it wound up in his pocket. The page at the linked address says it was  printed until 1942 if I'm reading it right (which, not having a clue about collecting currency or reading about the history of currency, I'm probably not).  Would the people still have honored it in 1944? I'm thinking maybe he traded the Allied Military Currency note for it after he arrived? His is in excellent condition, but I guess that doesn't preclude foul play although that's not in my top 100 presumptions. I'm no expert on the Vichy and occupied governments; what were the people of northern France using for money? I know the unit also passed through Marseilles in 1945 on its way back to the US; could it have been traded or obtained there at that time?

Interesting question. As far as I know, the Bank of France continued to issues the same currency all over France. So this banknote would have been legal tender in all of France up till it was demonetised. As to how they got it. A lot of British, Belgian, French etc soldiers did go to the UK in 1940. So that could be one way. Or they could have got it in France after D day. 

I read that the military currency was not popular, but he could have also exchanged Pounds or dollars for the banknote. 

That's a great point about the troops coming to the UK in ‘40. I hadn’t thought of that. After I posted the question I realized I know a British fellow working at the Overlord Museum in France; I asked him a few other questions about this besides the one I posted here. He wasn't sure about opportunities for a PFC to pocket it either but he did have this: DeGaulle refused to honor the Allied currency which made it pretty worthless. In 44 the whole of the country was under German control; currency “was pegged to the Reichsmark” with the exchange rate of 20 Francs : 1 RM. 

So now I'm thinking he got it from England as you suggest or in Marseilles when I bet the French would prefer it over what was in circulation from 42-45, and also when the US forces would have more leeway to go out on the town. I had been thinking “Isn't 100 Francs a lot for a PFC?” but no, he says in 1945 100 Francs would buy about two cups of coffee… if you could even find coffee. (And if you did it was probably GI issue on the black market!) US currency would've gone a lot farther so he probably didn't trade for it and it wouldn't have been worth stealing. I have no idea if he played poker but I like that sudden theory  : ) 

Thanks very much, Gumardee!

Yes I see what you mean. These would not last long in circulation as they were exchanged for new notes in 1945 to stop inflation and war profiteering. They could also have got it of German prisoners of war as well. Or even from North Africa or the French Carribean holdings. The choice is limitless.