Depicts balloon Réveillon takes off among cheering crowd, along the top edge inscription "Conquest of the skies", date below.

A hot air balloon is a lighter than air aircraft consisting of a bag called the envelope that is capable of containing heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carries passengers and (usually) a source of heat, in most cases an open flame.

The hot air balloon is the first successful human-carrying flight technology. The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight was performed by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes on November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, in a balloon created by the Montgolfier brothers.

Denomination and date below balloon basket.

Mint mark: Cornucopia, horn of plenty (Paris Mint - Paris until 1972 or Pessac from 1973)

Privy mark of the Mint's Chief Engravers: Dolphin - Emile Rousseau (1975-1993)

There are two varieties:
Type A: obverse face up when reading the edge
Type B: reverse face up when reading the edge

The national motto of France (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity)