100 MGA – 2017

1. Overview

• Issuer / Issuing Bank: Bank of Madagascar (Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara) (Numista, Wikipedia)
• Series Theme: “Madagascar and Its Riches” (Wikipedia, Secura Monde International (SMI))
• Type: Standard circulation banknote (Numista, abanknote.com)
• Years Issued: 2017 onwards (2017–2025) (Numista)
• Date of Issue: 18 September 2017 (Banknotes.com™, banknotedb.com, Wikipedia)
• Denomination: 100 Ariary (100 MGA) (~USD 0.023) (Numista, Wikipedia)
• Currency Unit: Ariary (since 2003), subdivided into iraimbilanja (practically obsolete) (Wikipedia, Wikipédia)
• Composition: Cotton-based paper (Numista, Banknotes.com™)
• Size: Approximately 114 × 60 mm (Numista, banknotedb.com, Numizon)
• Shape: Rectangular (Numista, abanknote.com)
• Demonetized: No — still legal tender (abanknote.com, de.wikipedia.org)

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2. Design & Imagery

Obverse (Front)

• Main Imagery:
  • Cathedral of Ambozontany and a view of Fianarantsoa (Numista, Banknotes.com™)
  • A butterfly used as a registration device (Numizon, Robert’s World Money)
  • Outline map of Madagascar, plus two birds in flight (Numista, Banknotes.com™)
• Color Scheme:
  • Predominantly blue with touches of dark red, dark green on a multicolour underprint (Numista)

Reverse (Back)

• Main Imagery:
  • The endemic Baron’s mantella frog (Mantella baroni) as central motif (Numista, Banknotes.com™)
  • Waterfall in the background; a volute design element; the comet moth (Argema mittrei, aka Madagascan moon moth) at right (Banknotes.com™, Numista)
• Text:
  • Malagasy and French legal warning:
    “HELOHIN’NY LALANA HIASA ANTERIVOZONA MANDRAPAHAFATINY NY MPANAO VOLA SANDOKA.”
    “La loi punit de travaux forcés à perpétuité tout contrefacteur de monnaie.” (Numista, Banknotes.com™)

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3. Security Features

• Watermark:
  • Head of a zebu (Bos taurus indicus) along with an “electrotype” numeral “100” (Banknotes.com™, banknotedb.com)
• Security Thread:
  • Embedded ~1 mm wide thread, visible under light and fluorescing in blue, yellow, and red; carries demetalized “BFM 100” and map motifs (Banknotes.com™, banknotedb.com, el.numista.com)
• Serial Numbers:
  • Black, horizontally oriented on the reverse; one printed in italic cursive (Banknotes.com™, Numista)
• UV Features:
  • Coloured fluorescent filament fibers; under UV, elements such as a turtle motto “BFM 100” fluoresce (Banknotes.com™, Numista)
• EURion Constellation:
  • Omron rings (“doughnuts”) to deter photocopying (Banknotes.com™, Numista)
• Latent Image:
  • Tilted view shows the numeral “100” in a blue space (el.numista.com, pl.numista.com)
• Tactile Features:
  • Two tactile squares to aid visually impaired users (banknotedb.com)
• Geometric Shape:
  • Embossed shape on upper right front for denomination recognition by vision-impaired people (Secura Monde International (SMI))

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4. Production Details & Variants

• Pick Number: P-97 (B332a) (Numista, Robert’s World Money)
• Printer:
  • Oberthur Technologies, France (per Numizon) (Numizon)
  • Another source suggests Giesecke+Devrient, Germany (el.numista.com, pl.numista.com)
• Signature: Alain Hervé M. Rasolofondraibe (Governor 2014–2019) (el.numista.com, Banknotes.com™)
• Varieties:
  • Standard “97a” issue (2017, no date); also rare specimen issues and 2022 signature variant by H. E. Rabarijohn (abanknote.com, el.numista.com)
• Availability:
  • Common in UNC condition, trading around USD 0.50–0.80; specimen and newer-signature issues slightly more valued (el.numista.com, abanknote.com)

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5. Cultural & Contextual Notes

• Currency Context:
  • Ariary is one of the world’s few non-decimal currencies (1 ariary = 5 iraimbilanja) (Wikipedia, Wikipédia)
• Series Significance:
  • The banknote series underscores Madagascar’s biodiversity, cultural heritage, and visual appeal—Cathedral, endemic frog, moth—all celebrating national identity (Wikipedia, Secura Monde International (SMI))
• Visual Accessibility:
  • Thoughtful design for the visually impaired (tactile marks, geometric symbols) affirms inclusion in currency design (Secura Monde International (SMI), banknotedb.com)
• Local Currency Practices:
  • Despite modernization, older generations and informal markets may still think in “franc malgache,” leading to practical confusions (Reddit, Wikipedia)

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Summary Table

Category	Details
Issuer	Bank of Madagascar
Issue Date	18 Sep 2017 (2017–2025 series)
Denomination	100 Ariary
Size / Composition	~114 × 60 mm; cotton paper
Obverse Imagery	Ambozontany Cathedral, map, butterfly, birds
Reverse Imagery	Baron’s mantella frog, waterfall, comet moth
Security Features	Watermark, security thread, UV fibers, EURion rings, latent image, tactile marks
Printer / Signature	Oberthur (possibly G+D); Governor Rasolofondraibe
Variants	97a standard, specimen, 2022 signature
Cultural Notes	Focus on biodiversity; inclusion features; dual legacy of franc usage