25 francs 1942

Common. Market data shows consistent sales of VF examples in the $8-$25 USD range over the past 15 years, with typical VF specimens selling for $11-$16. The 2016 catalog value of $27.50 for VF has seen only modest premiums at auction, and raw (ungraded) examples regularly appear at eBay with modest competitive bidding (typically 8-18 bids). While PMG-graded specimens (64-66) command significantly higher prices ($114-$870), ungraded circulated VF notes are abundant in the collector market. The print run for this 1942 denomination was substantial, and survival rates remain high.

Issued in 1942 by the Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale (Bank of West Africa), this 25 francs note reflects the French colonial administration's monetary control over French West Africa during World War II. The imagery—a turbaned African figure and a lion—were typical iconographic choices of the era, romanticizing colonial territories while the reverse's desert landscape represents the Saharan and Sahel regions under French dominion. The anti-counterfeiting warning referencing Article 139 of the Penal Code underscores the legal framework used to protect colonial currency from forgery.

The obverse features a portrait of a North African or Saharan man shown in profile facing left, wearing a traditional red-orange turban with geometric blue patterns and light-colored clothing, positioned alongside a horse's head depicted in fine detail. The composition is framed by a distinctive decorative scalloped border at the top with repeated triangular/cone motifs in red. A large blank cartouche with red border occupies the right side, likely reserved for watermark or additional security features. The reverse depicts a powerful lion's head in profile facing right with intricately rendered golden mane, set against a romanticized desert landscape featuring mountains, rocky formations, and sand dunes in beige and gray tones. The back border features geometric patterns with chevron designs in red and gray. Both sides include diamond-shaped security markers at the bottom corners. The color palette—predominantly beige/tan with red, navy blue, gold, and gray accents—reflects typical intaglio printing aesthetics of the 1940s.

FRONT SIDE: 'BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE' (Bank of West Africa) / 'VINGT CINQ FRANCS' (Twenty-Five Francs) / 'LE PRÉSIDENT, LE DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL,' (The President, The General Director,) / 'SEB. LAURENT FEC.' (Sebastian Laurent made [this design]) / 'E. DÉLOCHE SC.' (E. Déloche engraved [this]) / '9-1-1942' (January 9, 1942) / Serial number '54600177' and reference code 'A.2185'. BACK SIDE: 'BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE' (Bank of West Africa) / 'L'ART. 139 DU CODE PÉNAL PUNIT DES TRAVAUX FORCÉS CRUX QUI ARONT CONTREFAIT OU FALSIFIÉ LES BILLETS DE BANQUES AUTORISÉS PAR LA LOI' (Article 139 of the Penal Code punishes with forced labor those who counterfeit or falsify banknotes authorized by law) / 'SEB. LAURENT FEC.' (Sebastian Laurent made [this design]) / 'HOURRIEZ SC.' (Hourriez engraved [this]).

Intaglio engraving (taille-douce), executed by master engravers E. Déloche (obverse) and Hourriez (reverse), with design by Sebastian Laurent (SEB. LAURENT FEC.). The fine detail visible in the portrait, mane rendering, and decorative borders, combined with the complex multi-color composition, confirms this as a professional security-grade intaglio production typical of colonial-era banknote manufacturing by French security printers. The blank cartouches suggest areas reserved for watermarking or additional anti-counterfeiting measures.

Serial number 54600177 observed on this specimen. The note bears the signature block referencing both the President and General Director of the issuing bank, consistent with standard P-27 specimens from the 1942 issue dated 9-1-1942. PMG population data indicates one primary variant cataloged under P-27 (Woman's Head watermark), of which this ungraded VF example represents a standard circulation type. No overprints, special marks, or error varieties are visible on this specimen.