1 Kirobo

The "Kirobo" denomination is a Malagasy term derived from a corruption of Portuguese and Swahili trading vocabulary, reflecting Madagascar's long entanglement with Indian Ocean commerce before French annexation in 1896. This 1888 issue was struck under Queen Ranavalona III, the last monarch of the Merina Kingdom, during a period of intensifying French military and diplomatic pressure that would extinguish Malagasy sovereignty within a decade.

Leclercq 9 is scarce in any grade — the series saw limited production and heavy attrition in circulation.