French West Africa

➧

French West Africa was a federation of French colonial territories on the northwest coast of Africa. Formalized in 1895, this federation included Mauritania, Senegal, Dahomey, French Sudan, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Niger, French Guinea, and Togo. In 1960 all the countries save French Guinea became autonomous members of the French Community, and now use banknotes issued by the West African States monetary union.

Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale

Founded in 1903 in Dakar, Senegal to succeed the Banque du Senegal, the BAO was the central bank for French West Africa, which included the territories of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Dahomey (now Benin), French Guinea, French Sudan (now Mali), Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso). The BAO continued its to function until 1955, when it transitioned responsibility to the Institut d'Emission de l'A.O.F. et du Togo. In 1959, this function was then succeeded by the Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO).

1902-1924 Conakry Issue

B102C (

LK127C

) 25 Francs Grand-Bassam
Brown, Olive, Blue. Elephant head and trees; Arabic Text

203 x 120mm
Sig 4
Cote d'Ivoire overprinted in script font on Guinea (Conakry) note

(F)

1892 (1919) Provisional Issue

B107D (

LK156
P-3

) 1000 Francs Minerva and other Allegorical Figures

Printer: BdF
Series 161-170

Red BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE overprint on unissued 100F Banque de France note, type of 1892

For notes with this same design, see Provisional Allegories omnibus

(F)

Rousseau, L. SC

(B)

1916-24 Issue

B101Df2 (

LK24
P-5Bc

) 5 Francs Dakar
Lion, Local Artwork; Arabic Text

Printer: BdF
2/17/1926
Sig 4

Watermark: RF and caduceus

Desfontaines, H. DEL
Florian, E. SC

(F)

B102D (

LK54a

) 25 Francs Dakar
Brown, Olive, Blue. Elephant head and trees; Arabic Text

203 x 120mm
Sig 4

(F)

B102Gf (

LK69
P-7Db

) 25 Francs Grand-Bassam
Brown, Olive, Blue. Elephant head and trees; Arabic Text

7/12/1923
203 x 120mm
Sig 4

Watermark: Lion in crescent moon

(F)

B103De (

LK85
P-9Bc

) 50 Francs Dakar
Blue, Yellow, Red. Elephant head and trees; Arabic Text

3/14/1929
203 x 120mm
Sig 5

Watermark: Lion in crescent moon

(F)

B104Dd (

LK108
P-11Bb

) 100 Francs Dakar
Red, Pink, Orange. Elephant head and trees; Arabic Text

9/24/1926
203 x 120mm
Sig 4

Watermark: Lion in crescent moon

(F)

1933-45 Issue

B108g (

LK162a
P-21

) 5 Francs African Woman with Coffee Plants
Weaving Cloth

Printer: BdF
3/10/1938
Sig 7
Denomination in Dark Blue

Watermark: Head of native man

See French Equatorial Africa B201a for Vichy issue of this design

For notes with this same design, see African Woman with Coffee Plants omnibus

Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

B109 (

LK166
P-22

) 25 Francs Touareg Horseman, Lion

Printer: BdF
Denomination in blue

See French Equatorial Africa B202a for Vichy issue of this design

For notes with this same design, see Touareg Horseman omnibus

Deloche, E. SC
Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

Hourriez, G. SC

(B)

B110 (

LK170
P-23

) 100 Francs Two Native Women

Printer: BdF
7/31/1942
Sig 1

See French Equatorial Africa B203a for Vichy issue of this design

For notes with this same design, see Native Women omnibus

B111 (

LK172
P-24

) 25 Francs Native Woman and Baby, Allegorical France

Printer: BdF
10/21/1937
Sig 1

See French Equatorial Africa B204a for Vichy issue of this design

(F)

Hourriez, G. SC

(B)

1941-43 Issue

B112c (

LK163a
P-25

) 5 Francs African Woman with Coffee Plants
Weaving Cloth

Printer: BdF
5/6/1942
Sig 7

Watermark: Head of native man

Like B108g but denomination in light blue

For notes with this same design, see African Woman with Coffee Plants omnibus

Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

B113a (

LK164
P-26

) 5 Francs African Woman with Coffee Plants
Weaving Cloth

Printer: BdF
3/2/1943
Sig 7

Watermark: Head of native man

Like B108g but red denomination and signatures

For notes with this same design, see African Woman with Coffee Plants omnibus

Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

B114a (

LK168a
P-27

) 25 Francs Touareg Horseman
Lion

Printer: BWC
1/9/1942
Sig 7

Watermark: Head of native woman

Like B109 but red denomination

For notes with this same design, see Touareg Horseman omnibus

Deloche, E. SC
Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

Hourriez, G. SC

(B)

Afrique Occidentale Française

Local notes were authorized in 1944 to address a shortage of coinage

B201a (

LK389
P-33

) 50 Centimes Fortress
Orange.

ND (1944)

B202a (

LK390a
P-34a

) 1 Franc Fishing
Dk. Brown.

ND (1944)
White paper

B202b (

LK390b
P-34b

) 1 Franc Fishing

ND (1944)
Yellow paper

B203a (

LK391
P-35

) 2 Francs Palm Tree and Pirogue
Blue.

ND (1944)

Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale

B120j (

LK181j
P-36

) 5 Francs
Women with Pottery; Men Poling Boats

Printer: BdF
10/2/1951
Sig 8

Watermark: Head of bearded man

Hourriez, G. SC
Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

Chapon, A. SC

(B)

B121k (

LK184
P-37

) 10 Francs
Bow Hunting; Antelope

Printer: BdF
4/10/1953
Sig 8

Watermark: Head of native man

Armanelli, R. SC
Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

Tison, M. SC

(B)

B122k (

LK187
P-38

) 25 Francs
African Woman; Man with Zebu

Printer: BdF
12/19/1952
Sig 8

Watermark: Woman's head

Chapon, A. SC
Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

Régnier, G. SC

(B)

B123a (

LK189
P-39

) 50 Francs Marketplace
Man with Bananas

Printer: BdF
9/27/1944
Sig 7

Watermark: Man's head

Like B301a but with different issuer name

Armanelli, R. SC
Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

Tison, M. SC

(B)

B124m (

LK195
P-40

) 100 Francs
Woman with Fruit Bowl; Family

Printer: BdF
3/8/1951
Sig 8

Watermark: Woman's head

Chapon, A. SC
Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

Beltrand, G. SC

(B)

B125i (

LK198
P-41

) 500 Francs
Woman with French Flag; Colonial Soldiers

Printer: BdF
11/21/1953
Sig 8

Watermark: Marianne

Laurent, S. FEC
Régnier, G. SC

(F)

Beltrand, G. SC

(B)

B126g (

LK201
P-42

) 1000 Francs Woman and Jugs, Gazelles
Woman in Native Costume of Upper-Guinea

Printer: BdF
9/18/1950
Sig 8

Watermark: Woman with headscarf

(F)

Clément, C. SC
Rita SC

(B)

B127d (

LK204
P-43

) 5000 Francs
France with African Women; Man Playing Harp

Printer: BdF
12/22/1950
Sig 8

Watermark: Man's head

(F)

Chapon, A. SC

(B)

Institut d'Émission de l'A.O.F. et du Togo

In 1955, BAO transitioned its responsibilities to the Institut d'Emission de l'A.O.F. et du Togo and the Institut d’Émission de l’Afrique Équatoriale Française et du Cameroun.

B301a (

LK205a
P-44

) 50 Francs Marketplace
Man with Bananas

Printer: BdF
5/10/1955
Sig 1

Watermark: Man's head

Like B123a but with different issuer name

Armanelli, R. SC
Laurent, S. FEC

(F)

Tison, M. SC

(B)

B302a (

LK206a
P-45

) 50 Francs
African Girls; Dancer

Printer: BdF
ND (1956)
Sig 1

Watermark: Native man's head

Like West African States B101a but with different issuer name

Cras, M. FEC

(F)

B303a (

LK207a
P-46

) 100 Francs Woman with Braids

10/23/1956
Sig 1

B303b (

LK207a
P-46

) 100 Francs Woman with Braids

Printer: BdF
5/20/1957
Sig 1

Watermark: Woman's head

Like West African States B102a but with different issuer name

Beltrand, C. SC
Serveau, C. FEC

(F)

Baudier SC

(B)

B304a (

LK208a
P-47

) 500 Francs Traditional and Modern Agriculture

Printer: BdF
4/15/1959
Intaglio
Sig 1

Watermark: Woman's head

Like West African States B103a but with different issuer name

Vaudiau, R. FEC

(F)

B305a (

LK209a
P-48

) 1000 Francs Woman and Jugs, Gazelles
Woman in Native Costume of Upper-Guinea

Printer: BdF
5/10/1955

Watermark

Like B126g but with different issuer name

(F)

Clément, C. SC
Rita SC

(B)

B306a 5000 Francs Modern and Traditional Palm Oil Manufacturing

Printer: BdF
Sig 1
Unconfirmed

Watermark

Like West African States B105a but with different issuer name

Beltrand, C. SC
Munier, P. FEC

(F)

Baudier SC
Serveau, C. FEC

(B)

	Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale
	Un Administrateur	Le Directeur
1
	Émile Maurel	Henri Nouvion
2
	Alexis Rostand	Henri Nouvion
3
	Leon Prom	Henri Nouvion
4
	Jean-Baptiste-Marie-Paul Boyer	Henri Nouvion
	Le Président	Le Directeur Général
5
	Albert Duchene	Henri Nouvion
6
	Albert Duchêne	Edwin Poilay
7
	Georges Keller	Edwin Poilay
8
	M. de Coppet	Edwin Poilay
	Le Secrétaire Général	Le Contrôleur Général
9a
	Pierre Bourceret	Claude Bottin
9b
	Pierre Bourceret	Claude Bottin
9c
	Pierre Bourceret	Claude Bottin
	Institut d'Émission de l'A.O.F. et du Togo
	Le Président	Le Directeur Général
1
	Robert Tezenas du Montcel	Robert Julienne