500 francs 1959

Common. The 500 francs denomination from the 1959 West African States issue is widely available in numismatic markets. While individual serial number variants exist (such as the catalogued P-802Tm with code letter 'T'), the base Pick number P-802Tk represents a standard production note with no indication of limited print runs or special scarcity. Notes from this series are regularly offered in auctions and dealer inventories, and even high-grade uncirculated examples typically command modest premiums consistent with common notes.

Issued in 1959, this banknote reflects the transition of West African nations toward independence and modernization following colonial rule. The front depicts agricultural labor as the foundation of the region's economy, while the reverse showcases a steam locomotive and industrial infrastructure, symbolizing the aspirations for industrial development and progress. The imagery collectively represents the post-colonial identity of West African states, emphasizing self-determination through economic development and the valorization of both traditional and modern labor.

The obverse features a dynamic composition celebrating West African labor and cultural heritage. The left side depicts a worker engaged in agricultural labor, rendered in silhouette against a landscape with hills, representing the agrarian foundation of the economy. Dominating the center-right is a carved African mask with prominent facial features, striped patterns, and neck rings—a symbol of traditional African artistic and cultural identity. The note is framed by geometric border patterns in green and gold, with decorative cross-like symbols in the margins reflecting traditional motifs. The reverse presents a portrait of a person wearing an intricately patterned traditional head covering on the left, paired with an industrial landscape featuring a steam locomotive on railway tracks, colonial-era infrastructure, and palm trees on the right, symbolizing the region's transition to modern development. Both sides employ sophisticated engraving with fine line work and multi-color printing (beige, cream, gold, green, dark gray/black, and orange tones) throughout.

FRONT SIDE: '500' (Five hundred) / 'BANQUE CENTRALE DES ÉTATS DE L'AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST' (Central Bank of West African States) / 'CINQ CENTS FRANCS' (Five hundred francs) / 'LE PRÉSIDENT' (The President) / 'LE DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL' (The General Director) / Serial number: 108494721 / Security codes: K.44, T. BACK SIDE: '500' (Five hundred) / 'BANQUE CENTRALE DES ÉTATS DE L'AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST' (Central Bank of West African States) / 'LES AUTEURS OU COMPLICES DE FALSIFICATION OU DE CONTREFAÇON DE BILLETS DE BANQUE SERONT PUNIS CONFORMÉMENT AUX LOIS ET ACTES EN VIGUEUR' (The authors or accomplices of counterfeiting or falsification of banknotes shall be punished in accordance with the laws and acts in force).

Intaglio (engraving) printing, executed with sophisticated multi-color techniques. The note demonstrates fine line work, intricate geometric patterns, and detailed portrait and landscape engraving characteristic of security printing for the Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest during this period. The precision of the borders, the complexity of the geometric patterns, and the fine detail of both the mask and portrait suggest work by a major European security printer, likely Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. or De La Rue, who were common contractors for African central bank notes in this era.

This note bears the code letter 'T' (visible on the obverse), which corresponds to the variety catalogued as P-802Tm in the PMG population report. The security code 'K.44' appears to be a country/series designation for Togo. The serial number format '108494721' with the letter 'T' prefix identifies this as a specific print run. The catalog distinction P-802Tk versus P-802Tm suggests lettering varieties within the 1959 500 francs issue, with this example representing the 'T' code letter variant.