Catalog
5 Francs
| Issuer | Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale |
|---|---|
| Year | 1943 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 120 x 80 mm |
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| Obverse description | Central vignette of an African man in traditional dress with a wrapped head covering and beaded necklace, set against a background of tropical foliage rendered in green and brown tones. A large circular guilloche underprint occupies the left field, framed by a diamond-pattern border in red and gold. The denomination numeral '5' appears at upper left and upper right corners, with the date and two manuscript signatures — those of Le Président and Le Directeur Général — printed to the right of the central vignette. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE CINQ FRANCS |
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| Comments |
The Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale notes of this period occupy an awkward political moment: issued under the authority of a French colonial bank while France itself was under German occupation, their legitimacy depended entirely on which side of the Vichy-Free France divide the issuing territory fell on. French West Africa remained under Vichy administration until late 1942, meaning notes produced in this run were circulating in a currency zone whose political alignment had only recently and violently shifted.
The Banque de France handled the printing in Paris, a detail worth noting given that Paris was occupied territory at the time of production.