...Comoros - 500 and 1000 Francs ND2020 Hybrid Notes

Umoja wa Komori

(Union des Comores / Union of the Comoros)

Banque Centrale des Comores

Currency - Franc (KMF)

 

Here I have posted the two Comoros banknotes of 500 and 1000 francs. These two notes are reprints of the 2005/2006 series, and were reportedly released in or around 2020.

 

Whilst the designs of these two notes have not changed, apart from having new signatures, these two notes were printed by Banque de France with EverFit composite substrate technology. The EverFit composite substrate here is referred to as Hybrid banknote. The notes are first printed on 100% cotton material and then laminated with a thin polymer protective layers on both sides. These added protective layer provide resistance to soiling and ink wear. The protective layers also protect the security features and the printed design from wear and thus prolong the life cycle of the banknote. As I have mentioned earlier, these are reprints. Other denominations were also released in 2020 but only these two notes are printed with the EverFit composite substrate technology.

Five Hundred Francs

Dated 2006, Lemur climbing up a tree, Lac Niamawi (lake Niamawi)

Front - A Lemur climbing up a tree. Lemurs are mainly found on the island of Madagascar, but they are also found on Comoros islands as well. It is not surprising due to the location between the two countries. I am aware that these two countries are separated by the Mozambique channel. Underneath the lemur is a scene of Lac Niamawi (Lake Niamawi). This lake is located within an old volcanic crater on the main island of Comoros.  

Signatures

Le President du Conseil d'Administration (Chairman of the Board of Directors) - Remy Rioux (French)

Le Gouverneur (The Governor) - Dr Younoussa Imani (since 2017)

Dimensions - 120mm x 66mm

 

Back - Orchid flower

Orchid flower

One Thousand Francs

Dated 2005, West Indian Ocean Coelacanth (fish)

 

Front - West Indian Ocean Coelacanth (fish). They are found around the water of Comoros and are known to the locals as gombessa. This is a unique fish, as it can only be found in the water surrounding Comoros, Madagascar, South Africa and Indonesia. This fish can grow up to 2 meters long and have an average weight of 80 kilos.

Le President du Conseil d'Administration (Chairman of the Board of Directors) - Remy Rioux (French)*

Le Gouverneur (The Governor) - Dr Younoussa Imani (since 2017)

Dimensions - 127mm x 66mm 

 

Back - Man sitting on a Canoe (pirogue) with an oar in one hand.

Man sitting on a Canoe

*Footnote

Comoros was once part of the French colonial empire during the 19th century, and achieved independence in 1975. Since gaining independence, the status of the central bank is that all the eight Board of Directors are chosen by the Comoros Government, the French Central Bank and the French Government. With this arrangement, the post of the Deputy Director of the Central Bank is always held by an official from the Central Bank of France, who is responsible for the nation's monetary policy. I believe for this reason, the signature for the Chairman of the Board of Directors is a French man.