On December 15, 2003, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) put two banknotes worth CFA F 5,000 and 1,000 into circulation. This marked the third and final phase of the BCEAO banknote renewal operation.
Coins worth CFA F 500 and 200 were issued on December 24, 2003.
Characteristics of the CFA F 5,000 banknote
The dominant colour of the banknote is green.
Designs on the front
As with all of the other denominations in this range of notes, the main design on the front of the CFA F 5,000 banknote is the BCEAO logo, depicting a sawfish.
The theme on the front also focuses on agricultural production, symbolized by a banana plantation and an aerial view of hydro-agricultural facilities.
Designs on the back
The back of the CFA F 5,000 note depicts a pair of antelopes in the foreground, against a typical savanna backdrop.
Format
The dimensions of the CFA F 5,000 banknote are 140 mm by 74 mm.
Characteristics of the CFA F 1,000 banknote
The dominant colour of the banknote is red.
Designs on the front
Like the other denominations in the range of notes, the main design on the front of the CFA F 5,000 banknote is the BCEAO logo, namely a stylized sawfish.
The front of the CFA F 1,000 banknote is also dedicated to the health and education sectors, as illustrated by a pharmaceutical caduceus and medical cross, along with books, a slate and a globe.
Designs on the back
On the back, a pair of dromedaries are depicted against a typically Sahelian background.
Format
The dimensions of the CFA F 1,000 banknote are 125 mm by 66 mm.
Security features on the CFA F 5,000 and CFA F 1,000 banknotes
Security features incorporated in these banknotes can be authenticated by looking at them, tilting them or touching them :
- The Central Bank logo, the sawfish, and the face value in figures appear in watermarks;
- . The face value in figures is printed, on the front, in the upper left-hand corner, and on the back, in the upper right, with designs that align perfectly when the banknotes are held up to the light;
- A security thread, discontinuously overprinted with miniature characters alternately representing “UMOA” (WAMU, in French) and the face value in figures, can be seen across the top of both banknotes;
- Miniature characters on the back of both banknotes represent the face value in figures;
- On the back, a vertical, reflective strip (a yellow/grey, bicolour, iridescent strip), is inscribed with the face value in figures;
- On the front, the Central Bank logo, the friezes surrounding the logo, and the face values in figures and in letters are embossed and are tactually perceptible.
- The CFA F 5,000 banknote also contains a discontinuous holographic diffraction pattern.
Characteristics of the CFA F 500 and CFA F 200 coins
The CFA F 500 and CFA F 200 coins that were put into circulation on December 24, 2003, are bicolour and can be described as follows :
Technical characteristics
CFA F 500
Outer ring: Yellow
Centre: White
Diameter: 28.80 millimetres
Thickness: 2.35 millimetres
Weight: 10.60 grams
CFA F 200
Outer ring: White
Centre: Yellow
Diameter: 24.50 millimetres
Thickness: 2.00 millimetres
Weight: 7.00 grams
Theme
Both coins have one side embossed with the BCEAO logo of a stylized sawfish and with the inscription: "BANQUE CENTRALE DES ETATS DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST” (CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES) on the outer ring.
On the back, the designs on the CFA F 500 coin represent the main export crops of the WAEMU Zone (groundnuts, cocoa, coffee and cotton) and those on the CFA F 200 coin represent the main food crops (millet, maize, bananas and rice).
