French Guianan franc
Encyclopedia
The franc was the currency of French Guiana
until 2002. The French franc
circulated alongside banknotes issued specifically for French Guyana between 1888 and 1961 and notes issued for French Guyana, Guadeloupe
and Martinique
(collectively referred to as the French Antilles) between 1961 and 1975.
In 1941, the Caisse Centrale de France Libre (Central Cashier of the Free French) began issuing paper money, in denominations of 100 and 1000 francs. These were followed, in 1944, by similar notes in the same denominations issued by the Caisse Centrale de la France d'Outre Mer (Central Cashier for Overseas France). In 1947, the Caisse Centrale de la France d'Outre Mer took over the issuance of all paper money and introduced a new series of notes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000. These notes shared their designs with the notes issued for Guadeloupe and Martinique.
In 1961, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 francs notes were overstamped with their values in nouveax francs (new francs): 1, 5, 10 and 50 nouveax francs. The same year, a new series of notes was introduced with the names of French Guyana, Guadeloupe and Martinique on them. In 1963, the Institut d'Emission des Départements d'Outre-Mer (Institute for Emissions in the Overseas Departments) took over paper money production in the three departments, issuing 10 and 50 nouveax francs notes. These were followed in 1964 by notes for 5, 10, 50 and 100 francs, the word nouveaux having been dropped.
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
until 2002. The French franc
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
circulated alongside banknotes issued specifically for French Guyana between 1888 and 1961 and notes issued for French Guyana, Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
and Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
(collectively referred to as the French Antilles) between 1961 and 1975.
Banknotes
In 1888, the Banque de la Guyane introduced 100 and 500 francs notes, followed by 25 francs in 1910. Emergency issues of 1 and 2 francs notes were made between 1917 and 1919, with regular-type 5 francs notes introduced in 1922. Further emergency issues of 1 and 2 francs were made between 1942 and 1945. 1000 francs notes were introduced in 1942.In 1941, the Caisse Centrale de France Libre (Central Cashier of the Free French) began issuing paper money, in denominations of 100 and 1000 francs. These were followed, in 1944, by similar notes in the same denominations issued by the Caisse Centrale de la France d'Outre Mer (Central Cashier for Overseas France). In 1947, the Caisse Centrale de la France d'Outre Mer took over the issuance of all paper money and introduced a new series of notes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000. These notes shared their designs with the notes issued for Guadeloupe and Martinique.
In 1961, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 francs notes were overstamped with their values in nouveax francs (new francs): 1, 5, 10 and 50 nouveax francs. The same year, a new series of notes was introduced with the names of French Guyana, Guadeloupe and Martinique on them. In 1963, the Institut d'Emission des Départements d'Outre-Mer (Institute for Emissions in the Overseas Departments) took over paper money production in the three departments, issuing 10 and 50 nouveax francs notes. These were followed in 1964 by notes for 5, 10, 50 and 100 francs, the word nouveaux having been dropped.