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2 Francs
| Issuer | Government of Madagascar and Dependencies |
|---|---|
| Year | 1916 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse is a plain cardboard surface printed with a centrally placed engraved vignette of a zebu (Malagasy humped cattle) standing in profile to the right, rendered in a simple letterpress style on coarse yellowish-brown cardboard. The denomination '2 francs' is printed vertically along the right edge, while the Malagasy inscription 'Venty sy kirobo' runs vertically along the left edge. |
| Reverse lettering | Venty sy kirobo 2 francs |
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| Comments |
France's wartime coin shortages hit its colonies hard, and Madagascar's response in 1916 was pragmatic to the point of improvisation: actual postage stamps were glued onto printed cardboard backing to create emergency fractional currency. The 2 Franc denomination was achieved by affixing a pair of 1 Franc stamps. These were not stamped facsimiles — they were genuine postal issues mounted directly onto the card.
Separation of the stamp from its backing, or evidence of moisture damage to the adhesive bond, is the primary condition concern with this type. The cardboard stock was thin and absorbed humidity readily in Madagascar's climate.