1000 Francs Dakar

The Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale was the sole issuing authority across French West Africa from 1901, operating under a concession that tied colonial monetary policy directly to a Paris-based private institution. This 1000 Franc note, payable at Dakar, was among the highest denominations in circulation and would have moved primarily between traders and colonial administrators rather than through ordinary retail commerce — the purchasing power was simply too great for most local transactions.

Bellery-Desfontaines was primarily a poster and decorative arts illustrator, an unusual choice for banknote design work. The engraving fell to the Florian brothers, Frédéric and Ernest-Théophile, both associated with the Banque de France's intaglio workshop in Paris.