5000 MGA – 1988

1. Overview

• Issuer / Issuing Bank: Republic of Madagascar, via the Central Bank of Madagascar (Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara) (en.numista.com, banknotes.com). Established in 1974 (Wikipédia).
• Period / Type: Standard circulation banknote issued during the Second Republic (1975–1992) (en.numista.com).
• Years of Issue: Introduced in 1988, undated varieties circulated through 1994 (en.numista.com, vcoins.com).
• Denomination / Value: 5000 Malagasy Francs, equivalent to 1000 Ariary (1000 MGF) (en.numista.com).
• Currency: Malagasy Franc (subsequently replaced by Ariary in name, but both referenced on the note) (en.numista.com, Wikipédia).
• Composition (Material): Cotton-fiber paper (banknotes.com, en.numista.com).
• Size: Approximately 152 × 81–82 mm (some sources round height to 81 mm) (en.numista.com, banknotes.com).
• Shape: Rectangular (en.numista.com).
• Demonetized / Withdrawal: Officially withdrawn on 30 June 2005 (en.numista.com, banknotes.com).

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2. Design & Imagery

Obverse (Recto)

• Depicts a young Malagasy woman wearing a straw hat, carrying an infant on her back—symbolic of maternal care and tradition.
• Also features a stylized sun emblem and a marine mollusk seashell motif.
• Language: Latin script used for inscriptions (banknotes.com, en.numista.com).

Reverse (Verso)

• Shows an open book, part of the emblem of the Democratic Republic of Madagascar, the National Library of Madagascar building (Bibliothèque Nationale) located in Antananarivo (“Tana”), and the Independence stele in the Antaninarenina district.
• Design reinforces cultural heritage, education, and national independence (banknotes.com, en.numista.com).

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3. Security Features

• Watermark: Head of a zebu (local cattle species), visible when held against light (banknotes.com).
• Printing Method: Intaglio (raised print) that provides tactile features and anti-counterfeiting texture (banknotes.com).

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4. Production Details & Variants

• Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited, London, UK (TDLR), a major global banknote printer (en.numista.com, banknotes.com).
• Signature: Signed by Governor Richard Randriamaholy (Governor from January 1984 to December 1988) for at least some issues (banknotes.com).
• Catalogue References: Pick-73a (SCWPM standard), KM 73a (banknotes.com, en.numista.com).
• Print Runs / Frequency (as per Numista):
  • ND (1988–1989): approx. 15 million printed (~38% of collector holdings).
  • ND (1989–1994): approx. 23 million printed (~65%).
  • A rarer variant of ND (1989–1994) with only ~150,000 printed (~3%) (en.numista.com).
• Condition Notes: Circulated examples often rated up to Very Fine (VF), with grading noting pinholes or soiling in some specimens (banknotes.com).

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5. Cultural & Contextual Notes

• The dual denomination (Franc and Ariary) reflects Madagascar’s monetary transition: though Ariary became the official unit in 2003, the franc was still widely used colloquially during this note’s circulation (Wikipédia, Wikipédia).
• Imagery such as the woman and child emphasizes rural life and family; the National Library and Independence stele highlight Madagascar’s cultural institutions and sovereignty.
• Use of French (“5000 Cinq Mille Francs”) and Malagasy (“Arivo Ariary”) on the note underscores the bilingual context of the era (banknotes.com).

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Summary Table

Category	Details
Issuer	Central Bank of Madagascar
Period	Second Republic (1975–1992)
Years of Issue	1988–1994 (undated)
Denomination	5000 Francs = 1000 Ariary
Material / Size	Cotton-fiber paper, ~152 × 81–82 mm, rectangular
Printer	Thomas De La Rue & Co., London
Obverse Imagery	Woman & child, sun, seashell
Reverse Imagery	Open book, National Library, Independence stele
Security Features	Zebu watermark, intaglio printing
Demonetization	30 June 2005
Variants & Print Run	~15M (1988–89), ~23M (1989–94), rare ~150k (1989–94)
Cultural Significance	Transition currency, heritage and independence motifs