1000 franc note

Equatorial Africa, AD 1963

The colour of money

The strong images and glorious colours of this note reflect various cultural influences. The vivid pastel shades are a legacy from the time when most of the Equatorial African States (Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo and Gabon today) were French territories, for such colours were a distinctive feature of notes issued in France and her dominions, particularly from the 1920s to the 1960s.

However, the colour is also wonderfully appropriate for the scenes depicted, which represent key aspects of the indigenous economy. The front of the note shows a cotton market with women in traditional dress: the patterns of the cloth are echoed in the borders at each side. On the back the timber industry is illustrated by a logging scene.

A. Pick, N. Shafer and C.K. Bruce (eds.), Standard catalog of world pape (Iola, Wisconsin, annual publication)