French Somaliland

➧

French Somaliland was located in the northeast of Africa, and became a French colony in 1896. The country's name was changed to the French Territory of Afars and Issas on July 5, 1967 after it joined the new French Community as an overseas territory. Then on June 27, 1977 it gained independence from France, and changed its name to the Republic of Djibouti.

Banque de l'Indochine

The Banque de l'Indochine was founded in 1875, and initially operated in China, Saigon (Vietnam), French India and Cochinchina (Vietnam). The bank expanded over the years to include Tonkin (Vietnam), Haiphong (Vietnam), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Tahiti and Singapore. A branch was even opened in Djibouti. Banque de l'Indochine branches were eventually closed or acquired by other banks starting in the 1940's. Virtually all banknotes were provided by Banque de France, denominated in Francs or Piastres.

1920-1923 Issues

B107a (
  • KM606
  • P-5a
) 100 Francs Elephant Columns
Red.
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/2/1920
  • Sig 1
  • without 'Décrets' text at top center
(F)

1927-1941 Issues

B108a (
  • KM608a
  • P-6a
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
  • Sig 4
B108b (
  • KM608b
  • P-6a
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
  • Sig 5
B108c (
  • KM608c
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
  • Sig 6
B108d face
B108d face
B108d (
  • KM608d
  • P-6b
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
Blue, Red on Yellow.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927)
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B109a (
  • KM610a
  • P-7a
) 20 Francs Woman
Maroon, Tan. Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (2/26/1936)
  • Sig 4

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B109b (
  • KM610b
) 20 Francs Woman
  • ND (2/26/1936)
  • Sig 5
B110a face
B110a face
B110a (
  • KM611
  • P-7A
) 20 Francs
Multicolor, denomination in red. Woman; Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1941)
  • Sig 7

  • Microprint
  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B111 (
  • KM612
  • P-7B
) 20 Francs Woman, Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B112a (
  • KM613
  • P-8
) 100 Francs Woman with wreath
  • ND (1928-1938)
  • Sig 7
B112as face
B112as face
B112as (
  • KM613
  • P-8s
) 100 Francs Woman with wreath
Statue at Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1928-1938)
  • Sig 7
  • Specimen

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B113s (
  • KM614
  • P-8A
) 100 Francs Woman with wreath
Statue at Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1928-1938)
  • Sig 7
  • Red background behind numerals

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B114a (
  • KM616a
  • P-9a
) 500 Francs Allegory of France
  • 7/20/1927
  • Sig 5
B114b face
B114b face
B114b (
  • KM616b
  • P-9b
) 500 Francs Allegory of France
France and Local Woman, Ships
  • Printer: BdF
  • 3/8/1938
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Head of Polynesian woman

(F)
(B)
B115a (
  • KM617
  • P-10
) 1000 Francs Woman at Marketplace
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1943)
  • Sig 7

(F)
B116 (
  • KM618
  • P-10A
) 1000 Francs Woman at Marketplace
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1943)
  • Sig 7
  • Specimen. Red background behind numerals

(F)

1943 Overprinted Provisional Issues

Note there are modern fakes of these overprints. Verify the series number of the banknote as the first check of authenticity.

B117a face
B117a face
B117a (
  • KM624
  • P-11
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain, with Free France overprint
Blue, Red on Yellow.
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/1/1943
  • Sig 7
  • Series 63-74

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B117.5 20 Francs
Woman; Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1943)
  • Series 14

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B118 (
  • KM625
  • P-12
) 20 Francs
Woman; Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1943)
  • Series U.23-Y.23

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B119 (
  • KM620
  • P-12A
) 20 Francs
Woman; Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1943)
  • Series F.24-U.26

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B120 (
  • KM626
  • P-13
) 100 Francs Woman with wreath
Statue at Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1928-1938)
  • Sig 7
  • Series 8,10

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B121 (
  • KM621
  • P-13A
) 100 Francs Woman with wreath
Statue at Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1928-1938)
  • Sig 7
  • Series A.9-W.9

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B122 (
  • KM627
  • P-13B
) 500 Francs Allegory of France
France and Local Woman, Ships
  • Printer: BdF
  • 3/8/1938
  • Sig 7
  • Series A.4

(F)
(B)
B123 (
  • KM622
  • P-13C
) 500 Francs Allegory of France
France and Local Woman, Ships
  • Printer: BdF
  • 3/8/1938
  • Sig 7
  • Series S.2-Z.2

(F)
(B)
B124 (
  • KM623
  • P-13D
) 1000 Francs Woman at Marketplace
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1963)
  • Sig 11
  • Series A.3-K.3

  • Watermark

(F)
B125 (
  • KM628
  • P-13E
) 1000 Francs Woman at Marketplace
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1963)
  • Sig 11
  • Series 3

  • Watermark

(F)

1946-1948 Issues

B131a face
B131a face
B131a (
  • KM609
  • P-19
) 10 Francs Camel caravan
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1946)
  • Sig 9c

  • Watermark: Mercury
(F)
(B)
B132a (
  • KM615
  • P-19A
) 100 Francs Woman, Farmer and Ox
  • Printer: BdF

  • Watermark: Head of Mercury
(F)
B133a (
  • KM619
  • P-20
) 1000 Francs Woman Holding Jug
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1947)
  • Sig 9b
  • Series 2-8

(F)
(B)

Trésor Public, Cóte Française des Somalis

1952 Issues

B301a face
B301a face
B301a (
  • KM657
  • P-25
) 50 Francs Boat
Camel Caravan
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1952)

  • Watermark: Woman with headcloth
(F)
(B)
B302a face
B302a face
B302a (
  • KM658
  • P-26
) 100 Francs Corals
Palm Tree
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1952)

  • Watermark: Woman with headcloth
(F)
(B)
B303a (
  • KM659
  • P-27
) 500 Francs Djibouti Harbor, Ships and Antelope
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1952)

  • Watermark: Woman with headcloth

(F)
(B)
B304a (
  • KM660
  • P-28
) 1000 Francs Woman Holding Jug
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1952)
  • Series 4-60

(F)
(B)
B305a (
  • KM661
  • P-29
) 5000 Francs Djibouti Harbor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1952)
(F)
(B)

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