200 MGA – 2004
$ 3
A dignified and culturally evocative note from Madagascar’s 2004 dated issue, this 200 Ariary (1,000 Francs) banknote elegantly portrays on its obverse a thatched gateway leading into a highland village and the entrance to the Queen’s Summer Palace in Tananarive, while its reverse features the sculptural funerary “aloalo” motifs and zebu skulls traditionally found in southern Malagasy tombs—complemented by a subtle map of Madagascar; finely printed on cotton-based paper (126 × 63 mm) by the Central Bank of Madagascar, it is secured against forgery by a zebu-head watermark with electrotype “200,” and a red-green security thread labeled “BFM 200.”
1. Overview
- Issuer / Issuing bank: Central Bank of Madagascar (Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara) (banknotecollection.com, banknotes.com, banknoteworld.it).
- Period / Years: First issued on 25 November 2004, circulated during 2004–2006 (banknotes.com, vcoins.com, banknoteworld.it).
- Type: Standard circulation banknote.
- Face value: 200 Ariary (also denominated as 1 000 Francs in smaller print) (banknotes.com, colnect.com).
- Currency: Malagasy Ariary (ISO code: MGA) (Wikipedia).
- Composition: Cotton-based paper (banknotecollection.com, en.foronum.com).
- Size: 126 × 63 mm, rectangular (banknotecollection.com, en.foronum.com, banknoteworld.it).
- Shape: Rectangular.
- Demonetized: Withdrawn from exchange at Central Bank by June 2021; no longer legal tender (banknoteworld.com, Reddit).
2. Design and Imagery
Recto (Obverse)
- Depicts the entrance to a highland village and the gateway to the Queen’s Summer Palace in Antananarivo (Tananarive) (colnect.com, LastDodo).
- Themes: houses, landscapes—reflecting local architecture and culture (colnect.com).
Verso (Reverse)
- Features aloalo sculptures—a traditional funerary tomb pole motif from southern Madagascar—paired with zebu skulls and a small map of Madagascar as part of the design (banknotes.com, LastDodo, banknoteworld.com).
- The denomination appears both in Ariary (200) and in Franc (1 000) in small print (banknotes.com, colnect.com).
3. Security Features
- Watermark: Zebu head with electrotype “200” embedded in the paper (banknoteworld.com, banknotes.com).
- Security thread: Solid red and green thread printed with “BFM 200” (banknoteworld.com).
- Registration device: Map of Madagascar integrated into the design for alignment/anti-counterfeiting (banknoteworld.com).
4. Production Details and Variants
- Printer: Likely printed by Banque de France in Chamalières or by specialized security printers (per collector sources) (colleconline.com, banknoteworld.it).
- Catalog variants:
- P-87a: Signature by Gaston Édouard Ravelojaona (Signature 5) (colnect.com, banknoteworld.it).
- P-87b: Signature by Frédéric Rasamoely (Signature 6) (banknoteworld.it, LastDodo).
- P-87c: Signature by Alain Hervé Rasolofondraibe (Signature 6 alternate) (colnect.com).
- Serial signatures indicate different signatory periods, likely linked to changes in Central Bank governance.
- Catalog references: KM-87a (P-87a), P-87b, P-87c per standard banknote catalogs (vcoins.com, banknoteworld.it, colnect.com).
5. Cultural Notes & Additional Context
- The dual denomination (Ariary and Franc) reflects Madagascar’s transitional currency system (1 Ariary = 5 Francs) during that period (Wikipedia, Wikipédia).
- Aloalo motifs emphasize traditional funerary art, signaling deep cultural heritage and respect for ancestry.
- Recto imagery—village gateway and palace entrance—highlights historical architecture and cultural identity.
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara (Central Bank of Madagascar) |
| First Issued | 25 November 2004 |
| Circulation Period | 2004–2006 |
| Demonetized | By June 2021 |
| Value | 200 Ariary (1 000 Francs) |
| Composition | Paper |
| Size | 126 × 63 mm |
| Design (Obverse) | Village entrance, Queen’s Summer Palace Gateway |
| Design (Reverse) | Aloalo funerary poles, zebu skulls, map of Madagascar |
| Security Features | Zebu watermark, electrotype “200”, colored security thread, map registration |
| Variants | P-87a (Ravelojaona), P-87b (Rasamoely), P-87c (Rasolofondraibe) |
| Cultural Significance | Reflects architectural heritage, funerary arts, transition in currency usage |
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