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1 Franc
| Issuer | Gouvernement Général de l'Afrique Équatoriale Française |
|---|---|
| Year | 1917 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Paper |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
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| Protection type | Watermark |
| Protection description | Laurel leaves (P#2b) |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
French Equatorial Africa's colonial administration issued this note in 1917 out of simple necessity: the wartime metal shortage had drained small coinage from the territory entirely, and the Gouvernement Général needed a substitute quickly. Imprimerie Chaix — better known for its railway timetables and commercial printing than for banknote work — received the contract, which partly explains the modest production values relative to notes produced by Banque de France specialists.
Léon Leclerc's design credit here is worth noting: he was a prolific commercial artist working in Paris at the time, not a trained security engraver. Watermarking aside, the anti-counterfeiting measures are thin — a reflection of how remote the intended circulation territory was from any realistic counterfeiting threat.