Catalog
500 Francs
| Issuer | Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale - République Centrafricaine |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985-1991 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | CFA Franc (Bank of Central African States, 1973-date) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | 500 RÉPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE CINQ CENTS FRANCS 500 LE GOUVERNEUR UN CENSEUR |
| Reverse description | The reverse repeats the carved wooden figurine and ceramic jug vignette at center, rendered in brown intaglio against a multicolored guilloche background of orange, yellow, and green tones with stylized floral and geometric rosette patterns. The denomination '500' appears at upper left and lower right, with the issuing bank name arched across the top. A large oval void at left serves as the watermark zone. |
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| Comments |
The Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale operated as the common central bank for six member states of the BEAC zone, each distinguished by a letter code — "C" on notes for the Central African Republic. This pooled arrangement meant the same printed sheet served multiple sovereigns simultaneously, with the country identifier being the principal differentiating element between otherwise identical notes in the series.
Oye Mba served as Governor of the BEAC from 1978 to 1990, a tenure that spanned some of the most turbulent years of the CFA franc's managed relationship with the French Treasury — the peg held, but under considerable strain. The devaluation that finally came in January 1994 was already in discussion long before this note's issue window closed.