20 Nouveaux Francs / New Francs Overprint on P#52 - 1000 Francs

The Institut d'Émission des Départements d'Outre-Mer was created in 1959 to manage currency for France's overseas departments — Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion, and French Guiana — following the constitutional reorganization that converted former colonies into integral parts of the French Republic. This note is not a new printing but a revalued overprint on existing P#52 stock, a consequence of de Gaulle's 1960 currency reform that introduced the nouveau franc at a rate of 100 old francs to one new franc. The overprint route was economically practical and avoided the delay of a full redesign.

The extended issue window across four years under two signature combinations suggests steady demand across the four departments throughout the period.