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500 Francs Grand-Bassam
| Issuer | Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale |
|---|---|
| Year | 1924 |
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| Currency | Franc (1895-1944) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE Cinq Cents Francs PAYABLES EN ESPÈCES, A VUE, AU PORTEUR GRAND-BASSAM Le Président L'Administrateur-Directeur h.Bellery Desfontaines del. ERNEST ET FREDERIC FLORIAN SC. |
| Reverse description | The reverse, engraved by Georges Duval, is printed entirely in Arabic script and composed in a symmetrical layout with an ornate geometric guilloche border of interlaced diamond and rosette motifs framing the field. The denomination and bank name are repeated in Arabic across the top panel, with the payability clause distributed in two flanking columns and a central blank hexagonal reserve echoing the obverse. The overall design reflects the Arabic-language face intended for circulation in the Muslim-majority territories of French West Africa. |
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| Comments |
The Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale held a private concession to issue currency across French West Africa, a commercial privilege that persisted until 1955 — making it one of the longer-running colonial note monopolies on the continent. Grand-Bassam, named as the place of payment, was the original administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire before yellow fever outbreaks repeatedly decimated its European population and forced the colonial seat inland to Boissy, then eventually to Abidjan.
Bellery-Desfontaines was primarily an illustrator and poster artist; his work on this series is among the few instances his designs crossed into engraved banknote production. The Florian brothers — Frédéric and Ernest-Théophile — handled the engraving at Banque de France, which produced notes for BAO issues throughout this period.