World Banknotes

Banque de l’Indochine, French Somaliland, a proof reverse for a 500 Francs, ND (1945), violet, pale blue and grey, a variety of sea-shells at centre, also two separate vignettes each with a vignette of a shield, swords and spears, in PMG holder 58 EPQ, choice about uncirculated, most unusual, the standard design for type is a stand of weapons as on the vignettes, extremely rare (3 pieces)
BNB 129 for type, Pick 17 for type £700-£900

Ex. Dabbah collection

This a final proof for the 500 Francs with an unadopted design for the World War II emergency series printed by Emil Pikovsky Zincography in Jerusalem on behalf of the Government printer in Palestine. The proof is identical to the issued 500 Francs, except the detail on reverse (as seen on the standard issue) of shield, swords and spears, is replaced with coral and seashells. There is no obvious reason for the change of design which did not happen until a very late stage in the design approval process. One possible explanation is that the 1000 Francs depicted a marine theme, which may have led to an alternative design (cf Dabbah p.194 and pp.286/287 for type). The die proofs of the traditional reverse design of shield, swords and spears as in the final circulation type (refer to Dabbah p.288 for type) see Dabbah p.288.