100 francs 1941

Common. This is a standard circulation issue from the lengthy 1939-1945 series with substantial print runs. eBay market data shows consistent sales in the Fair to VF condition range at prices between $6.50 and $23.50 over the past decade, with UNC specimens commanding $88-$320. The abundance of Fair-condition examples selling for under $25 confirms this is a commonly encountered note in the collector market. Population reports show multiple variants (P-85 and P-85s) with professional grading available, indicating robust collector interest but no scarcity.

Issued during World War II under the Vichy French administration of Algeria, this banknote reflects the colonial economic context of North Africa. The reverse design emphasizes the agricultural foundation of the Algerian economy with its prominent depiction of traditional plowing with oxen against a Mediterranean landscape. The bilingual French-Arabic inscriptions demonstrate the administrative structure of French Algeria during this period, representing a transitional era before Algeria's independence in 1962.

The obverse features a three-quarter portrait of an unidentified Algerian gentleman with a full beard, wearing a traditional North African turban (possibly a chechia or similar headdress), positioned on the left side with architectural structures visible in the background landscape. The reverse depicts an agricultural scene central to the Algerian economy: a farmer operating a traditional wooden plow drawn by a pair of oxen, with a Mediterranean hillside village featuring white buildings and mountain ranges in the background. Both sides are framed with ornamental borders incorporating palm fronds and stylized floral designs in gold and burgundy, with the denomination prominently displayed. The multicolor palette combines beige/cream paper tones with red, blue-grey, green, and gold accents, typical of the Banque de l'Algérie's 1939-1945 issue series.

FRONT SIDE: 'BANQUE DE L'ALGERIE' (Bank of Algeria), 'CENT FRANCS' (One Hundred Francs), 'مائة فرنك' (One Hundred Francs in Arabic), '100' (denomination), 'F.621' (series designation), '454' (reference number), '15505454' (serial number), '4-8-1941' (issue date: August 4, 1941), 'JACQUES SIMON FEC.' (Jacques Simon engraved), 'G. BELTRAND SC.' (G. Beltrand sculpted). REVERSE SIDE: 'BANQUE DE L'ALGERIE' (Bank of Algeria), '100' (denomination in red), 'JACQUES SIMON FEC.' (Jacques Simon engraved), 'HOURRIEZ SC.' (Hourriez sculpted), with decorative Arabic text.

Intaglio engraving (taille-douce), as evidenced by the fine detail work in the portraiture and landscape scenes, the engraver and sculptor attributions (Jacques Simon as primary engraver with G. Beltrand on obverse and Hourriez on reverse), and the characteristic crisp line work visible despite aging. The multicolor printing technique employs multiple plates for the various color separations (reds, blues, greens, and gold tones), typical of high-security banknote production of the Vichy period. The note was likely produced by the Banque de l'Algérie's authorized security printer.

This specimen represents the standard P-85 variety of the Banque de l'Algérie 100 Francs 1939-1945 issue. The specific identifier F.621 with serial number 15505454 and the August 4, 1941 date place it within the documented variants. The Pick catalog notes two variants (P-85 and P-85s, with the 's' likely indicating a specimen overprint variety). No specimen overprint is visible on this circulated example, confirming it as a regular P-85 circulation note rather than the P-85s specimen variant.