I had never thought that my blogs would reach out in a way that helps certain pieces come together, but now I know differently.
The other day, George Cuhaj, editor of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money series was preparing the last of an interesting collection he has on loan for color scanning. He called over to me and mentioned that he had read my blog on St. Pierre & Miquelon and was wondering if I would be interested in adding a note or two to my collection because the notes he had already scanned would eventually be for sale.
Well, I hadn’t really thought much about adding to my two notes, but when he showed me these three examples I thought to myself, “why not?” The obscurity of these islands and their issues of paper money presented quite a challenge indeed, despite the fact that these three examples were being offered to me at full catalog – ouch! But with years of experience behind me, I know very well when something exceptional or elusive is offered to you to enhance your collection – DO NOT HESITATE!! (That’s why banks give out loans – if actually needed.)
The 5 Francs notes belong in the ND(1950-1960) series, along with the 10 and 20 Francs illustrated previously. An early sailing ship is portrayed at left, while Louis Antoine de Bougainville is at right.
On the back, it appears to be a well-dressed Polynesian woman leaning on a basket of fruits, local residence at right with palm trees and volcanoes in the background. Now we not only have African motifs, but Polynesian also.
The next two notes are very interesting as they were originally printed for “La Reunion,” another French colony, and were revalued in 1960 to reflect
the monetary reform of 1 Nouveau Franc = 50 old francs. A stunning portrait of Belain d’Esnambuc at left and an early sailing ship at right. On the back side is a woman facing 3/4 right holding a shaft at left with a hut in the background with native art at the extreme left and right. The watermark appears to be a female head.
As for varieties, the first has five digits at the top and three digits in the panel at lower left. The second variety has nine digits above and five digits in the panel at lower left.
