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Early BCEAO Issues (1959-61)
In 1955, France transferred emissions authority for French West
Africa from the BAO to the new Institut d’Emission de l’Afrique
Occidentale Francais et du Togo. The Bank of France designed and
printed a new series of notes for the region. The Institut d’Emission
was converted in 1958 to the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest
(BCEAO) to serve as a central emissions authority for the soon-to-beindependent
West African colonies. The 1955 designs were continued
as a common currency for all eight member countries. After an initial
issue in 1959, the BCEAO decided it needed to identify emissions for
individual countries. An overprint system such as that used for other
French colonies was originally considered. This approach, however,
was eventually rejected because of fear that notes with one country’s
overprint might not be fully accepted in other member countries.
As a result, the BCEAO adopted a code letter system to identify the
country of issue. Mali was assigned the letter “D”. The new notes
were printed by the Bank of France and began circulating in 1959.
Only five issues are known for Mali before it seceded from the
BCEAO in 1962. All are extremely rare.
The BCEAO originally considered an overprint system for its notes.
The only example known of the Mali 1000 francs dated 1961 (West
African States 403Db).
Banque de la Republique du Mali (1962-68)
In his push leftward, President Modibo Keita pulled Mali out of
the BCEAO in 1962. BCEAO notes in circulation were recalled
and destroyed. Severe penalties were applicable for anyone who
continued to hold BCEAO notes—several businessmen were
executed. New notes, printed by Statni Tiskarna Cenin in Prague
and bearing Keita’s portrait at left, were issued by the Mali central
bank. The notes were pre-dated to the founding of the Republic
of Mali on 22-9-1960.
First series 500 francs note (Mali 3) issued by the Banque de la Republique
du Mali.
A second series of notes was issued in 1967, similar to the
first, but with Keita’s portrait at right and printed by Thomas de
la Rue. Only one week was given to exchange the old notes and
many people, especially in remote areas, saw their savings wiped
out as a result. Although Keita was overthrown by a military coup
in late 1968 and the central bank renamed, these notes continued
to circulate until 1971, when replacements became available.
Banque de la Republique du Mali notes carry the following signatures:
Sign. 1 Ministre des
Finances
Attaher Maiga
Sign. 2 Min. des Finances
Attaher Maiga
Le Gouverneur
Lamine Sow
Ministre d’Etat
Jean Marie Kone
Le Gouverneur
Alpha Oumar
Cisse
Second series 1000 francs note (Mali 9) issued by the Banque de la
Republique du Mali.
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