This Guinea-Bissau banknote represents the 1st denomination of the Guinea-Bissau Peso (Series 1990). The now obsolete Peso circulated from 1975 to 1997, replacing the colonial Portuguese Guinean Escudo at par (1:1). The Peso circulated in 3 separate series, issued in 1975, 1983, and 1990. The final 2 series share a similar design, although differ in their color-coding.
In 1997, the Guinea-Bissau Peso was replaced by the West African CFA Franc. The exchange rate was 65 Peso to 1 Franc. While the Franc has since remained the currency of Guinea-Bissau Peso. In 2019, a CFA Franc replacement called the Eco was proposed. (This note will be reviewed reverse first)
Reverse
The reverse features various stages of a traditional drinking ceremony. This drinking ceremony precedes a circumcision ceremony, as an initiation into manhood. Such ceremonies are traditional amongst West African cultures. And were spread into Central, Eastern, Southern Africa during the Bantu expansion (~3500 BCE-1,000 CE). The ceremony uses a ceremonial wood and iron knife.
The header reads, the (trans.) "Central Bank of Guinea-Bissau. On the notes corners are number "50"s representing the note's face value. Below the stage of the ceremony is the text (trans.) "Fifty Pesos", repeating the note's 50 Peso value. Nearby is a counterfeit warning, it reads (trans.) "The law punishes the counterfeiter".
Moving toward the lower-left, is a "purple flame". This flame forms the positive of the note's registration element. The negative is located on the note's observe and is completed by backlighting the note. Additionally four small "sawtooth" elements can be seen along the sides. These "sawtooth" elements are paired with unprinted sections on the observe.
Notably exposing the reverse to ultraviolet (UV) light, cause it to glow blue. Doing so will also expose a hidden security thread. The security thread aligns with the letter "B", in the word "Bissau" (header). It shines florescent yellow making it recognizable.
Observe
The observe features a portrait of revolutionary Pansau Na Isna (1938-1969). He is amongst the ten soldiers memorialized at Fort Amura, the headquarters of the Guinea-Bissau Army. Na Isna is said to have taken part in a successful PAIGC raid on the island of Como, against a Portuguese military post. His grave plaque says he killed in Nhacra, a town outside of the capital (Bissau)
The header reads, the (trans.) "Central Bank of Guinea-Bissau". The note's (trans.) "1 March 1990" print date and tapered serial number (AB902413) are listed. Followed by the note's "Five Hundred Pesos" face value and a pair of signatures. These signatures represent the Bank Governor and Vice Governor. The note's footer lists it's printer, "Thomas De La Rue Company, Limited".
Moving to the left is an illustration of a traditional drum, with wooden idols. The drum aligns with a hidden ultraviolet band. It can be recognized by the slightly darker underprint. At the far left is a sequence of five number "50"s. The underprint below them features micro text, it repeats "BANCO CENTRAL DA GUINE-BISSAU", in sequence.
An additional number "50" can be be seen at the upper-right corner. While below is the Guinea-Bissau Coat of Arms. The beforementioned "flame" registration element can be seen above it. Just as the far left, the underprint repeats (trans.) "Central Bank of Guinea-Bissau" in sequence.
As beforementioned exposing the note with UV light will cause the note to glow blue. The underprint aligning with the drum glows yellow. While signatures and serial number glow florescent yellow. Exposure and age may cause these element to fade.
Ultraviolet Gallery
Guinea-Bissau Peso Gallery
(Gallery contains all banknotes of the 1990 Guinea-Bissau Peso)
Additional Notes
This note's dimensions are 117 x 60 mm or 4.60 x 2.36 in, smaller than a US Dollar.
The preferable method to preserve this note are standard size protective sleeves.
The Paraguayan Guaraní ISO code is PGY, it uses ₲ as its official symbol.
In theory, the Guaraní is subdivided into 100 Céntimos, modern coins are in Guaraní values.
The CFA is a French institution which provides monetary services for France's former African colonies, via the French treasury.
The West African CFA Franc is the currency of 8 nations: Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
Comments