100 francs 1952

Common. The eBay market data provided shows consistent sales activity with examples in VF condition selling for $19.38 to $46 over the period 2013-2017, and more recent F-condition sales in the $9-$32 range, indicating steady collector demand but not scarcity. Population estimates from PMG show this note has been submitted for professional grading in multiple variants, suggesting adequate circulation among collectors. The large print runs typical of regular issues from a major colonial central bank, combined with the affordable price range ($27.50 catalog value for VF condition in 2016) and regular auction sales, confirm this as a common date in the series.

This 1952 issue by the Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale (Bank of West Africa) represents French colonial monetary authority during the final years before West African independence. The dual imagery—combining agricultural abundance on the obverse with ethnographic portraiture of local populations on the reverse—exemplifies the era's colonial representational strategies, using economic production and cultural imagery to justify French administration of the territories. The banknote was issued just a decade before most of these territories achieved independence and the currency ceased circulation.

The obverse features an allegorical representation of African agricultural wealth through a bare-shouldered female figure holding a basket filled with tropical and temperate produce—corn, grapes, bananas, and pineapple—symbolizing the economic promise and agricultural resources of French West Africa. Decorative leaf and vine borders frame the composition, with denomination numerals ('100') in circles at the top corners. The reverse presents ethnographic imagery depicting three African figures arranged as a family group: a woman on the left adorned with a beaded necklace and textured headband, a small child in the center, and a man on the right draped in cloth, set against a savanna landscape with acacia-like trees. Geometric border patterns incorporating diamonds and linear designs frame both sides, with floral motifs in the bottom corners. The color palette employs beige, gray, pink, green, yellow, and purple tones typical of mid-century banknote production. The engraving credits indicate collaboration between Seb. Laurent (designer) and A. Chapon/G. Beltrand (sculptors).

FRONT SIDE: 'BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE' (Bank of West Africa); '100 CENT FRANCS' (One Hundred Francs); 'LE PRÉSIDENT' (The President); 'LE DIRECTEUR Gal' (The General Director); Serial number 'U.14718' (appears twice); Date '31-7-1952' (July 31, 1952); Sequential number '608'; Engraver credits 'SEB. LAURENT FEC.' (Seb. Laurent engraved/designed it) and 'A. CHAPON SC.' (A. Chapon engraved/sculpted it). BACK SIDE: 'BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE' (Bank of West Africa); '100 FR' (100 Francs) appears twice; Serial identifier 'SITEF.U'; 'L'ARTICLE 189 DU CODE PÉNAL PUNIT DES TRAVAUX FORCÉS CEUX QUI AURONT CONTREFAIT OU FALSIFIÉ LES BILLETS DE BANQUES AUTORISÉES PAR LA LOI' (Article 189 of the Penal Code punishes with forced labor those who shall have counterfeited or falsified banknotes authorized by law); Engraver credits 'SEB. LAURENT FEC.' (Seb. Laurent engraved/designed it) and 'G. BELTRAND SC.' (G. Beltrand engraved/sculpted it).

Intaglio engraving (line engraving and recess printing), evidenced by the fine line work, intricate engraving patterns, sharp detail definition, and the credited engravers' names. The multicolor printing technique visible in the dominant colors suggests either multi-pass intaglio printing or chromolithography combined with intaglio. The precise registration and clarity of fine details throughout the note indicate professional security printing, consistent with French colonial banknote production standards of the 1952 era. The printer is not explicitly identified on the note, but French West African notes of this period were typically produced by major French security printers such as Imprimerie Nationale or Banque de France facilities.

The Pick catalog identifies this as P-40 with a man's head watermark, and notes that PMG has catalogued two variants: P-40 and P-40s (the 's' designation typically indicating specimen or special marking variants). The observed note displays serial number prefix 'U.14718' with sequential number '608', and is dated '31-7-1952'. The visual analysis does not reveal obvious overprints, replacement markings, or other distinguishing features that would indicate this as anything other than a standard P-40 regular issue. Collectors should verify watermark type (Man's Head) and presence/absence of 's' designation features to determine exact variant classification.