Catalog
50 Dirhams / Francs
| Issuer | Banque d'État du Maroc |
|---|---|
| Year | 1953 |
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| Printer | Banque de France, France |
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| Obverse description | The obverse presents a central vignette of a Moroccan medina with a minaret and Atlas Mountains in the background, rendered in green and ochre tones with fine intaglio engraving. The heading BANQUE D'ÉTAT DU MAROC appears at the top, with the denomination stated as both CINQ MILLE FRANCS and CINQUANTE DIRHAMS in French, the latter overprinted in red Arabic script at upper right. Geometric Moorish zellij tilework in guilloche surrounds the lower corners, and the serial number, prefix, and date appear in the upper margin. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse is dominated by a large intaglio vignette of a Moroccan hydroelectric dam and reservoir set within an arid gorge landscape, rendered in warm brown, ochre, and olive tones. Arabic text reading البنك المخزني المغربي (Banque d'État du Maroc) and the denomination in Arabic script appear at the top, with additional Arabic inscriptions distributed across the central field. A circular watermark area is visible at left, and the denomination numeral 5000 appears at lower right within a bordered panel. |
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| Comments |
The dual French-Arabic denomination — Francs on one face, Dirhams on the other — reflects the awkward monetary transition underway in Morocco at the time. The dirham had been abandoned in 1921 in favor of the franc, but Moroccan political pressure through the late protectorate period pushed for its symbolic restoration well before independence formally arrived in 1956. This note straddles that unresolved question.
Beltrand was among the most accomplished intaglio engravers working for the Banque de France in the mid-twentieth century, and Munier's contribution to the obverse engraving makes this a particularly well-crafted plate.