1964 Madagascar 20 Ariary / 100 Francs banknote featuring a Malagasy woman with a basket on the front and a rural village scene on the back, issued by Institut d’Émission Malgache

20 MGA – 1964

$ 45

A finely crafted note from Madagascar’s First Republic (circa 1964), this 100 Francs / 20 Ariary banknote features on the obverse a serene rural tableau of three women weaving baskets against a farm backdrop, while the reverse presents a stylized southwestern landscape dotted with baobab trees, alohala plants, and cacti, complete with a bilingual penal warning. Produced by the Banque de France on paper and bearing a watermark of a woman’s head, it elegantly embodies both cultural identity and mid-1960s design ethos.

Category:

1. Overview

  • Issuer: Madagascar (First Republic, 1958–1975) via the Institut d’Émission Malgache (en.numista.com).
  • Issuing Bank: Institut d’Émission Malgache; replaced the colonial Banque de Madagascar et des Comores post-independence (Wikipedia, Wikipédia).
  • Period in Circulation: Approximately 1964–1973 (en.numista.com, fr.numista.com).
  • Denomination/Value: 100 Malagasy Francs = 20 Ariary (20 MGF) (en.numista.com).
  • Currency: Malagasy Franc (dual-valued in Ariary; Ariary only became the sole unit much later) (Wikipédia, Wikipedia).
  • Composition: Paper (en.numista.com).
  • Size: 130 mm × 70 mm; Rectangular shape (en.numista.com).
  • Demonetized: Yes; no longer legal tender (en.numista.com).
  • Printer: Banque de France (Paris, France) (en.numista.com).

2. Design & Imagery

  • Obverse (Recto): Depicts three women weaving baskets, set against a rural farm scene. Features inscriptions:
    • FAMOAHAMBOLAN’NY REPOBLICA MALAGASY
    • INSTITUT D’ÉMISSION MALGACHE
    • CENT FRANCS / ROAPOLO ARIARY (French and Malagasy) (en.numista.com).
  • Reverse (Verso): Illustrates a southwestern Madagascar landscape, with prominent baobab trees to the right, alohala plants at bottom/right, and cacti to the left. A rectangular cartouche includes a bilingual penal warning:
    • French: LA LOI PUNIT DES TRAVAUX FORCÉS À PERPÉTUITÉ TOUT CONTREFACTEUR DE MONNAIE
    • Malagasy: HELOHIN’NY LALANA HIASA AN-TERIVOZONA MANDRAPAHAFATINY NY MPANAO VOLA SANDOKA — “The law punishes with forced labor for life any counterfeiter of currency” (en.numista.com).

3. Security Features

  • Watermark: According to Numizon, the note includes a woman’s head watermark (numizon.com).
  • Signature Varieties: Known to have at least two signature sets: #57a (issued note) and #57s (specimen), useful for identifying variants (numizon.com).
  • Additional Security: Likely standard mid-20th-century features such as watermark and specialized paper; specific features beyond watermark are not detailed in sources.

4. Production Details & Variants

  • Dates/Signature Varieties:
    • ND (undated 1964) – variants include:
      • P-57p (épreuve/proof) – 1.8% of known examples.
      • P-57s (specimen) – extremely rare (0% frequency).
      • P-57a (Miadana signature) – main circulation type (~90% frequency).
      • P-57b (Ramaroson signature, dated 1970-1973 period) – around 6% frequency (en.numista.com).
  • Approximate Print Runs:
    • P-57a: ~145 million notes.
    • P-57b: ~13.5 million notes (en.numista.com).
  • Market Value (Indicative): Based on Numista user data:
    • Around $4.70 (VG), $8.20 (VF), up to ~$17 (UNC) for P-57a type (en.numista.com).
  • Catalog References: Standard world notes catalog referred to as P# 57; also cross-listed as K.845b (cgb.fr).

5. Cultural Notes & Context

  • Dual-Denomination System: Reflects Madagascar’s transition period post-independence, where both franc and ariary values coexisted (1 ariary = 5 francs), before fully switching to ariary later (Wikipédia, Wikipedia).
  • Colonial Legacy & Monetary Sovereignty: The shift from the Banque de Madagascar et des Comores (colonial-era bank) to Madagascar’s own Institut d’Émission Malgache in 1960 indicated burgeoning economic autonomy (Wikipedia, Wikipédia).
  • Legal Language as Art & Warning: Including penal text against counterfeiting in both French and Malagasy suggests the emphasis on legality, governance, and bilingual recognition.

6. Summary Table

Aspect Details
Issuer Madagascar – Institut d’Émission Malgache (First Republic)
Date of Issue Circa 1964–1973
Denomination 100 Francs = 20 Ariary
Material Paper
Dimensions 130 × 70 mm, rectangular
Printer Banque de France, Paris
Design Obverse Three women weaving baskets; inscriptions in French & Malagasy
Design Reverse Southwestern landscape with baobabs, alohala, cactus; penal warning in both languages
Security Watermark (woman’s head); signature variants (#57a, #57b, proof, specimen)
Variants P-57a (Miadana), P-57b (Ramaroson), P-57p (proof), P-57s (specimen)
Estimated Print ~145M (P-57a); ~13.5M (P-57b)
Status Demonitized
Context Reflects Madagascar’s early post–colonial monetary identity and bilingual heritage

 

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “20 MGA – 1964”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related products