2 francs 1943
Market Prices
8 salesAbout This Note
This is a New Caledonian 2 Francs note from 1943 issued by the Trésorerie de Nouméa, graded EF (Extremely Fine) based on visual inspection. The note displays crisp, clear printing with minimal wear, featuring a striking colonial-era industrial vignette on the obverse and a prominent Cross of Lorraine with stag antlers on the reverse. The well-preserved condition and intact security features, including legible serial number 033,506 and official signatures, make this an attractive example of Free French colonial currency from World War II.
Common. Despite being a 1943 wartime issue, eBay market data consistently shows examples selling in the $35–$50 range across multiple condition grades (EF to UNC), with numerous transactions over the past decade indicating steady supply. Catalogue values from 2016 list UNC at $40, consistent with current market realized prices. The absence of any scarcity indicators (small print runs, early recall, or extremely limited issuing authority) and the robust secondary market activity demonstrate this is a commonly available note among collectors of French colonial currency.
This 1943 note represents New Caledonian currency issued during World War II under the Free French administration, following the territory's alignment with General de Gaulle's forces. The industrial imagery depicting port infrastructure, colonial buildings, and loading equipment reflects New Caledonia's strategic importance as a Pacific source of nickel and other resources vital to the Allied war effort. The Cross of Lorraine on the reverse is the symbolic emblem of Free France, while the stag head represents the territory's natural heritage and sovereignty.
The obverse depicts a colonial-era New Caledonian landscape featuring elevated terrain with scattered colonial-style administrative buildings, fortified structures, and prominent port/mining infrastructure including loading cranes—symbolic of the territory's economic importance as a nickel-producing region. The design is framed by decorative geometric borders. The denomination appears in corner circles and a central circular medallion. The reverse presents a large, centered Cross of Lorraine (the symbol of Free France) flanked by ornate floral and botanical decorative elements (leaves and flowers), with a stag head positioned directly beneath the cross, representing both French patriotic authority and New Caledonian natural identity. The architectural and industrial vignettes on the obverse underscore the wartime economic role of the Pacific territory, while the Free French iconography on the reverse affirms political allegiance during the WWII period.
OBVERSE: 'NOUVELLE CALEDONIE' (New Caledonia), 'TRÉSORERIE DE NOUMÉA' (Treasury of Noumea), '2F.' and 'DEUX FRANCS' (2 Francs, displayed twice), 'Le Gouverneur' (The Governor) and 'Le Trésorier-Payeur' (The Treasurer-Paymaster) as signature lines, 'Nouméa' (Noumea), 'le 29 mars 1943' (March 29, 1943), serial number '033,506'. REVERSE: 'BON DE CAISSE TRÉSOR' (Treasury Cashbox Bond), '2F' and 'NOUMÉA' (2 Francs, Noumea), 'ARRÊTÉ DU 30 JANVIER 1943' (Decree of January 30, 1943), and legal warning: 'L'ARTICLE 189 DU CODE PÉNAL PUNIT DES TRAVAUX FORCÉS À PERPÉTUITÉ CEUX QUI AURAIENT CONTREFAIT OU FALSIFIÉ CES BONS AINSI QUE CEUX QUI AURAIENT FAIT USAGE DE CES BONS CONTREFAITS OU FALSIFIÉS' (Article 189 of the Penal Code punishes with forced labor for life those who have counterfeited or forged these bonds as well as those who have made use of these counterfeit or forged bonds).
The note exhibits characteristics of intaglio (engraved) printing, evident from the crisp, sharp line work visible in the geometric borders, the detailed industrial vignette, and the well-defined floral ornaments on the reverse. The consistent ink density and fine detail in the cross and decorative elements, combined with the embossed quality apparent in the EF condition assessment, indicate professional security printing typical of French colonial currency production during WWII. The specific printer is not definitively identified from the visual analysis, but French Treasury printing facilities would have been responsible.
Pick P-56b is identified as one of two known variants for the base Pick number 2 Francs 1943 New Caledonia issue, with P-56a representing an alternative variety. The visual analysis confirms this specimen is the P-56b variant. The date inscription 'le 29 mars 1943' (March 29, 1943) and the 'ARRÊTÉ DU 30 JANVIER 1943' decree reference align with the catalog date range (L. 29.01.1943 / 29.03.1943). The serial number 033,506 and official signatures by the Governor and Treasurer-Paymaster are standard features of regular-issue specimens from this printing lot.
