100 MGA – 2004
$ 2
A striking and elegant banknote from Madagascar, the 100 Ariary (500 Francs) issue of 2004, showcases the Traveler’s Palm and the dramatic limestone spires of Tsingy de Bemaraha on the front, with Sugarloaf Hill rising in Antsiranana Bay on the back—each design framed by a discreet map of Madagascar. Printed by the Banque de France on crisp paper, this note incorporates a zebu-head watermark with an electrotype “100,” a vibrant red-and-green “BFM 100” security thread, tactile Omron rings, and precise registration for both function and flair.
1. Overview
- Issuer / Issuing Bank: Republic of Madagascar – by the Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara (Central Bank of Madagascar) (el.numista.com, Wikipedia).
- Period: Third Republic of Madagascar (1992–2010) (el.numista.com).
- Type: Standard circulation banknote from the “Madagascar and its Riches – Series 1” (el.numista.com).
- Year: Dated 2004; issuance spanned approximately 2004–2016, with variants bearing different governors’ signatures (P-86a, P-86b, P-86c) (banknotedb.com, Colnect).
- Value: 100 Ariary, equivalent to 500 Malagasy Francs (note retains both units) (el.numista.com, banknotedb.com).
- Currency: Ariary (introduced and increasingly dominant since early 2000s) (Wikipedia).
- Composition: Paper (el.numista.com, banknotedb.com).
- Size: 120 × 60 mm (el.numista.com, banknotedb.com).
- Shape: Rectangular (el.numista.com).
- Issued: Official date 25 November 2004 (Banknotes.com).
- Demonetized: 31 December 2020 (el.numista.com).
2. Design & Imagery
Obverse (Front)
- Features the Ravinala palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) and the limestone needle forest of Tsingy de Bemaraha; a small map of Madagascar appears as a registration device (el.numista.com, numizon.com, Banknotes.com).
- Text includes “BANKY FOIBEN’I MADAGASIKARA” and “ARIARY ZATO” (100 Ariary) in Latin script (el.numista.com, Banknotes.com).
Reverse (Back)
- Displays the Sugar Loaf Hill (Pain de Sucre) in Diego-Suarez Bay (Antsiranana) with a small map of Madagascar as a registration device (el.numista.com, Banknotes.com, numizon.com).
- Contains a warning legend in Malagasy and French:
“HELOHIN NY LALANA HIASA ANTERIVOZONA MANDRAPAHAFATINY NY MPANAO VOLA SANDOKA / LA LOI PUNIT DE TRAVAUX FORCÉS À PERPÉTUITÉ TOUT CONTREFACTEUR DE MONNAIE” (“The law punishes with penal labor for life any counterfeiter of money”) (el.numista.com, Banknotes.com).
3. Security Features
- Watermark: Head of a zebu cattle with an electrotype “100” (el.numista.com, banknotedb.com).
- Security Thread: Red-and-green solid thread printed with “BFM 100” (banknotedb.com).
- Registration Device: Map of Madagascar aligns perfectly when held to light (banknotedb.com, numizon.com).
- Tactile Element: A square mark to assist visually impaired individuals (banknotedb.com).
- Omron Rings: Printed on both sides for tactile recognition and security (banknotedb.com).
- Embossed Feature: Raised “100” on the right side (banknotedb.com).
4. Production Details & Variants
- Variants by Signature:
- P-86a – Governor Gaston Edouard Ravelojaona; ~120 million printed; ~1.5% specimens (el.numista.com).
- P-86b – Governor Frédéric Rasamoely; ~333 million printed; majority of circulated notes (~60%) (el.numista.com).
- P-86c – Governor Alain Hervé M. Rasolofondraibe; ~63 million printed; ~22% frequency (el.numista.com).
- Printer: Printed by the Banque de France (France) (numizon.com).
- Prefixes: Replacement series use prefix Z/Z (numizon.com).
- Issue Span: Despite the date “2004,” notes were printed and issued across several years (2004–2016) with the above signature variants (banknotedb.com).
5. Cultural & Contextual Notes
- The ariary became the sole official currency (replacing the franc) by 1 January 2005; however, earlier notes like this one still display both units, with the ariary more prominently featured from July 2003 onward (Wikipedia).
- The design celebrates Madagascar’s biodiversity and landscapes, notably Ravinala palm and Tsingy de Bemaraha, emblematic of the island’s natural heritage (Banknotes.com, numizon.com).
- The bilingual legal warning (Malagasy/French) reflects the country’s colonial history and multilingual governance.
- The tactile and visual security features indicate a forward-looking design attentive to accessibility (visually impaired) and anti-counterfeiting.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara |
| Year & Issues | Dated 2004; issued 2004–2016 in P-86a/b/c forms |
| Value | 100 Ariary (= 500 Francs) |
| Composition & Size | Paper; 120 × 60 mm |
| Demonetization | 31 December 2020 |
| Obverse Design | Ravinala palm, Tsingy de Bemaraha, map |
| Reverse Design | Sugar Loaf Hill (Antsiranana), map, legal legend |
| Security Features | Watermark (zebu & 100), BFM 100 thread, tactile, embossed |
| Printer | Banque de France |
| Variants | P-86a (Ravelojaona), P-86b (Rasamoely), P-86c (Rasolofondraibe) |
| Cultural Significance | Natural heritage, bilingual warning, transition from franc to ariary |
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