African Art (Culture) | Smithwicknumismatics

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With our extensive list of world coins and banknotes. Our articles showcase the story of each piece. Focusing on the unique people, artifacts, and wildlife they feature. As one can not fully appreciate a banknote without knowing its story.

Notes Of The West African Franc, The Village On Stilts: 1,000 Francs (Ivory Coast, 1997)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Dec 9, 20221 min read

Notes Of The West African Franc, The Village On Stilts: 1,000 Francs (Ivory Coast, 1997)-Reference

This large West African banknote represents the 2nd denomination of the West African CFA Franc (Series 1991). The beautifully illustrated...

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Notes Of The Central African Franc,The Coffee Farm: 1,000 Francs (Equatorial Guinea, 2000)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Dec 8, 20221 min read

Notes Of The Central African Franc,The Coffee Farm: 1,000 Francs (Equatorial Guinea, 2000)-Reference

This large Central African banknote represents the 2nd denomination of the Central African CFA Franc (Series 1994). The beautifully...

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Notes Of The Central African Franc, The Craftsman: 500 Francs (Republic of Congo, 1990)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Dec 6, 20221 min read

Notes Of The Central African Franc, The Craftsman: 500 Francs (Republic of Congo, 1990)-Reference

This large Central African Republic banknote represents the 1st denomination of the Central African CFA Franc (Series 1985). The...

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Notes Of The Central African Franc, The Herdsman: 500 Francs (Equatorial Guinea, 2000)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Apr 18, 20221 min read

Notes Of The Central African Franc, The Herdsman: 500 Francs (Equatorial Guinea, 2000)-Reference

This large Equatorial Guinean banknote represents the 1st denomination of the Central African CFA Franc (Series 1994). The beautifully...

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Notes Of Marshall Mobutu, The Fishermen: 2,000 Zaires (Zaire, 1991)-Article

smithwicknumismati

Mar 31, 20223 min read

Notes Of Marshall Mobutu, The Fishermen: 2,000 Zaires (Zaire, 1991)-Article

This colorful Zairian banknote represents the 5th denomination of the Zaire (Series 1988-92). The Zaire was the currency of the nation of...

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Notes Of The West African Franc, The Manantali Dam: 500 Francs (Senegal, 2002)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Nov 27, 20211 min read

Notes Of The West African Franc, The Manantali Dam: 500 Francs (Senegal, 2002)-Reference

This large West African banknote represents the 1st denomination of the West African CFA Franc (Series 1991). The beautifully illustrated...

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Notes Of The Second Guinean Franc, Banana Harvest: 100 Francs (Guinea, 1998)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Nov 25, 20211 min read

Notes Of The Second Guinean Franc, Banana Harvest: 100 Francs (Guinea, 1998)-Reference

This banknote represents the 1st denomination of the Second Franc (Series 1998). The observe features a Mandinka woman and a hand craved...

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Chico Té And An Immoral Past: 500 Pesos (Guinea Bissau, 1990)-Article

smithwicknumismati

Oct 28, 20213 min read

Chico Té And An Immoral Past: 500 Pesos (Guinea Bissau, 1990)-Article

This Guinea-Bissauan banknote represents the 3rd denomination of the Guinea-Bissau Peso (Series 1990). The now obsolete Peso circulated...

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Domingos Ramos, The Fallen Revolutionary: 100 Pesos (Guinea-Bissau, 1990)-Article

smithwicknumismati

Oct 28, 20213 min read

Domingos Ramos, The Fallen Revolutionary: 100 Pesos (Guinea-Bissau, 1990)-Article

This Guinea-Bissauan banknote represents the 2nd denomination of the Guinea-Bissau Peso (Series 1990). The now obsolete Peso circulated...

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Congo Reborn, Notes Of The Second Franc #3:10 Centimes (Democratic Republic of Congo,1997)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Oct 24, 20211 min read

Congo Reborn, Notes Of The Second Franc #3:10 Centimes (Democratic Republic of Congo,1997)-Reference

This Congolese banknote represents the 3rd denomination of the Second Franc (Series 1997). The observe features the traditional Pende...

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Congo Reborn, Notes Of The Second Franc #2: 5 Centimes (Democratic Republic of Congo,1997)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Oct 24, 20211 min read

Congo Reborn, Notes Of The Second Franc #2: 5 Centimes (Democratic Republic of Congo,1997)-Reference

This Congolese banknote represents the 2nd denomination of the Second Franc (Series 1997). The observe features the traditional Hemba...

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The Bracelet Money Of West Africa, Nkobnkob (Southern Nigeria, 1560-1700)-Article

smithwicknumismati

Sep 3, 20214 min read

The Bracelet Money Of West Africa, Nkobnkob (Southern Nigeria, 1560-1700)-Article

This horseshoe-shaped bracelet is a Nkobnkob. A type special trade currency once used in West Africa. The Nkobnkob dates to the early...

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The Bracelet Money Of West Africa, Onoudu (Cameroon, 1701-1800)-Article

smithwicknumismati

Aug 27, 20212 min read

The Bracelet Money Of West Africa, Onoudu (Cameroon, 1701-1800)-Article

This horseshoe-shaped bracelet is a Onoudu. A type special trade currency once used in West Africa. The Onoudu dates to the mid to late...

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The Bracelet Money Of West Africa, Okpoho (Southern Nigeria, 1801-1948)-Article

smithwicknumismati

Aug 20, 20213 min read

The Bracelet Money Of West Africa, Okpoho (Southern Nigeria, 1801-1948)-Article

This horseshoe-shaped bracelet is a Okpoho (Efik for Money). A type special trade currency once used in West Africa. The Okpoho dates to...

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Small Notes Of The Great Rift Republic #2: 20 Francs (Burundi, 2007)-Article

smithwicknumismati

May 27, 20212 min read

Small Notes Of The Great Rift Republic #2: 20 Francs (Burundi, 2007)-Article

This Burundi banknote represent the 2st denomination of the Burundian Franc (1975). Notes of this small value were produced enmasse and...

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The Shattered Pearl Of The Indian Ocean: 50 Shillings (Somalia,1991)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Apr 4, 20211 min read

The Shattered Pearl Of The Indian Ocean: 50 Shillings (Somalia,1991)-Reference

This late Cold War Somali banknote represents the 2nd denomination of 1991 Currency Reform Series. The observe depicts a Somali artisan...

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Madiba and the Rhinoceros: 10 Rand (South Africa, 2015)-Article

smithwicknumismati

Jan 15, 20212 min read

Madiba and the Rhinoceros: 10 Rand (South Africa, 2015)-Article

South African Rands are multilingual and are known for depicting African wildlife. They span the 11 official languages of South Africa,...

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Fear, Hunger, And Despair; The Effects Of War: 5000 Meticais (Mozambique, 1989)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Jan 10, 20211 min read

Fear, Hunger, And Despair; The Effects Of War: 5000 Meticais (Mozambique, 1989)-Reference

This post-colonial Mozambique banknote represents the 5th denomination of the First Metical. The observe features abstract African art,...

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Notes Of The Fish Eagle, Freedom, Breaker Of Chains: 50 Kwacha (Zambia, 1988)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Jan 6, 20211 min read

Notes Of The Fish Eagle, Freedom, Breaker Of Chains: 50 Kwacha (Zambia, 1988)-Reference

This Zambian banknote represents the 6th denomination of Kwacha (4th Series, 1980). The observe features a young portrait of Kenneth...

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Landmarks And Austerity: 20 Billion Dollars (Zimbabwe, 2008)-Reference

smithwicknumismati

Jan 2, 20211 min read

Landmarks And Austerity: 20 Billion Dollars (Zimbabwe, 2008)-Reference

This Zimbabwean banknote represents the 24th denomination of the Third Zimbabwean Dollar (Series 2008). The observe features the Chiremba...

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