100 francs 1941

Common. eBay market data shows consistent sales activity across multiple condition grades from 2009-2024, with VF specimens regularly selling between $11-$46, indicating healthy collector demand but abundant supply. The 2016 catalog valuations place VF examples at $30-$50, consistent with market prices. Print runs for regular issues of the Banque de l'Algérie during this period were substantial to meet circulation demands across North Africa, and no historical evidence suggests this Pick-13a variety was short-lived or recalled. The prevalence of specimens with cancellation stamps (as seen here) is typical for wartime banking records that survive in institutional collections, further suggesting this was a standard, widely-distributed issue.

This note represents a transitional period in North African colonial banking during World War II. The Banque de l'Algérie issued these notes for circulation across French North African territories, with the TUNISIE overprint specifically designating them for use in Tunisia. The imagery—featuring traditional Maghrebi dress, agricultural labor with cattle, and fortified settlements—reflects the colonial administration's romanticized portrayal of indigenous North African life and economic activity during the final years of French dominion in the region.

The obverse portrays a bearded North African gentleman in right profile wearing a traditional striped turban and white litham (face veil), representing the Maghrebi indigenous population. The background depicts an arched fortification or casbah with palm trees and rocky terrain, evoking the Saharan and North African landscape. Vertical gold-colored wheat or laurel wreath motifs frame both sides of the composition, symbolizing prosperity and agricultural wealth. The reverse presents a pastoral scene of agricultural labor, with figures guiding oxen through fields, while a hillside settlement with distinctive Maghrebi architecture rises in the background—mountains visible beyond. Decorative borders feature grape vines and pomegranates in the corners, traditional Mediterranean and North African symbols of abundance. The dual-language presentation (French and Arabic) reflects the bilingual colonial administration structure.

FRONT: 'Banque de l'Algérie' (Bank of Algeria), 'Cent Francs' (One Hundred Francs), '100' (denomination), Arabic text 'مائة' (One Hundred in Arabic), Serial number '18020782', Engraver marks 'Jacques Simon Fec.' and 'C. Beltrand Sc.', Note reference 'V.721', Cancellation date '2-12-1941' (2 December 1941). BACK: 'Banque de l'Algérie' (Bank of Algeria), '100' (denomination), Engraver marks 'Jacques Simon Fec.' and 'Hourriez Sc.', Arabic inscription relating to denomination and state currency authority.

This note was produced using intaglio engraving, evidenced by the fine line work, detailed portraiture, precise border designs, and the engraver signatures visible on both obverse and reverse ('Jacques Simon Fec.' for the primary engraver, with secondary engravers C. Beltrand and Hourriez). The multicolor printing technique appears to have employed multiple copper plates to achieve the distinctive beige/cream base with purple, brown, gold, red, and blue elements. The precision and quality of execution is consistent with the Banque de l'Algérie's contracted security printers of the period, likely produced by a European bank note security printer serving the French colonial administration.

This specimen represents Pick-13a, identified by its watermark of a Woman's Head (as opposed to the Pick-13b variant which features a Bank Title watermark). The TUNISIE overprint on the base Algeria P-85 design is characteristic of this Tunisian-circulation variety. The serial number prefix '18' and the specific date 2-12-1941 indicate this was issued during the peak production period (1939-5.1.1942 date range noted in catalog). The presence of the white cancellation stamp with date marking is consistent with French colonial banking archive practices and does not indicate a separate variety but rather standard institutional handling of the period.