5 francs 1941

Common. The eBay market data provided shows consistent sales of this Pick number across multiple grades spanning from 2010 to 2025, with Fine condition examples regularly selling in the $3-$12 range, and most sales achieving under $20. The numerous sales records indicate substantial collector availability. The 2016 catalog value for VF condition was only $8.50, and Fine condition typically realizes even less. No evidence of restricted mintage, recall, or short-lived issuance exists. The Pick-25 5 Francs 1941 represents a standard, widely circulated colonial issue with no rarity premium.

This banknote was issued during World War II by the Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale, the central banking institution for French West African territories. The imagery reflects the colonial-era portrayal of African subjects and labor, with both obverse and reverse sides depicting indigenous figures in traditional dress and engaged in work, a common iconographic approach in French colonial currency design. The date of 6 March 1941 places this note during the period of Vichy French administration of the colonies, a transitional moment in West African monetary history.

The obverse features a portrait of an African man in left profile, wearing a traditional turban-style head covering and draped garments with a beaded necklace, positioned on the right side of the composition. A large decorative oval frame with ornamental borders occupies the left side, rendered in cream and white tones. The background incorporates stylized palm fronds and vegetation in green and brown hues, with additional geometric decorative elements at the corners. The reverse depicts a second African male portrait in right profile, wearing a red/coral-colored cap and traditional draped clothing, shown engaged in labor or craftwork with hands positioned actively. A geometric pattern suggesting woven textile work forms the background, with another large decorative circular frame on the right. Both sides employ fine engraving work with intricate line-work characteristic of 1940s banknote production, emphasizing the colonial representation of West African subjects and labor.

FRONT SIDE: 'BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE' (Bank of West Africa); '5' and 'CINQ FRANCS' (Five Francs); Date: '6-3-41' (6 March 1941); 'LE PRESIDENT' (The President) with signature 'Llalli'; 'LE DIRECTEUR GENERAL' (The Director General) with signature 'Pibley'; Serial number '205242422'; Reference identifier 'S.8210'; Reference number '422'. REVERSE SIDE: 'BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE' (Bank of West Africa); Denomination '5'; Legal warning: 'L'ARTICLE 189 DU CODE PÉNAL PUNIT DES TRAVAUX FORCÉS CEUX QUI AURAIENT CONTREFAIT OU FALSIFIÉ CES BILLETS OU EN AURAIENT FAIT USAGE' (Article 189 of the Penal Code punishes with hard labor those who would have counterfeited or falsified these notes or made use of them).

The note exhibits intaglio engraving, the standard security printing method for banknotes of this era. The fine detail work visible in the portrait engravings, the geometric line patterns, and the decorative borders all show characteristics consistent with hand-engraved intaglio plates. The multi-color printing (cream/beige, green, brown, blue-grey, red/coral, and mauve/purple tones) indicates a multi-plate printing process typical of colonial-era French banknote production. The Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale commissioned production from French security printers, likely Banque de France associated facilities, maintaining metropolitan printing standards for colonial currency.

This specific example is identified as P-25 (Pick catalog designation) with Man's Head watermark. The PMG population report indicates two cataloged variants: P-25 and P-25s (the 's' suffix typically denoting a specimen or special marking variant). The observed specimen displays the standard P-25 characteristics without specimen overprints. The signatures visible on this note ('Llalli' as President and 'Pibley' as Director General) may represent one specific signature variety among multiple signature combinations known for this issue, though multiple signature variants are typical for notes issued over an extended period. Serial number S.8210 and date 6-3-41 (6 March 1941) are consistent with regular circulation examples from the initial issuance.