Though catalog values have these almost at the same value, Mali picks 2 and 7 definitely have different costs attributed to them on the eBay marketplace. President Modibo Keita ‘adourns’ the face of both of these banknotes, but the back is a different story. Pick 2 features some grazing cattle, while Pick 7 features an old man and a fisherman aboard a canoe. One of these was purchased for $10, the other $42. Can you guess which is more valued?

Mali 100 Francs: two issues (Pick 2 and Pick 7)

Aaah … Belgian Congo. Beautiful and interesting money is a trademark, and I have been looking for one of these 100 Franc banknotes for quite a while. After I discovered it, it rose to the top of my wish list. First of all, I love wildlife, and elephants are quite a thing in the banknote world. Oxen are prominent features on banknotes too, in Africa and Asia. This banknote features both. I hadn’t seen this banknote often before I added it to my wish list, but it seems as though this banknotes comes up for auction quite often as I have kept my eye on it ever since. This banknote usually sells for $90-$150 in VF condition, but this one has a center hole. However, this is also one of the earlier versions (p17) and was printed again in the 50′s and is now p25 in the Krause’ Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.

Belgian Congo p17c: 100 Francs from 1946

I remember the day, which was not too long ago, when Katanga notes sold for no more than $50 in VF+ condition, but this day is long gone. Now-a-days these notes fetch huge premiums above catalog values, and generally are in VF shape at best. I snatched up this 100 Franc note, which is in VG condition in my eyes, for its catalog value of $75. I would not have done this, except that I consider these banknotes to be good investments. The notes themselves, though colorful, are not particularly appealing, and neither is the man depicted in them: Moise Tshombe. I’ll have to google him, because I have no idea who he is …

Katanga pick 8a: 100 Francs from 1960

I recently purchased the banknote shown below from eBay. It is in rough shape, and I did pay $38.89 for it, but I knew that there was something special about it. As the eBay auction was within minutes from ending, I flipped through my Standard Catalog of World Paper Money searching for the country and pick, and therefore the value of this banknote, but could not find it before the auction concluded, so I bid on it blindly. Luckily, my instinct was right. Though the banknote does say Banque de L’Indochine and Djibouti, the banknote is not classified under either country. To my surprise, this is pick 19A from French Somaliland. Somehow this made sense in the end, but it took me a while to figure this one out. This banknote is scarce, and valued at $90 in Fine condition, which is about accurate in this case, I believe.

French Somaliland: p19A 100 Francs (Djibouti)

I recently purchased this Belgian banknote, mostly because of its condition: I know that these Belgian banknotes in EF-AUNC condition are quite hard to find, though they are quite readily available in VF or worse condition. The banknote features a portrait of King Albert and Queen Elizabeth at left on the face. At bottom center in a resting lion, and the back features a carpenter working away at his workbench. Obviously this issue was an attempt at converting to a currency of their own, as Francs was the previous currency, but Belgas never stuck, and Belgium reverted to Francs in 1944-1945. Quite an attractive piece of paper money as far as Belgium is concerned …

Belgium p102: 100 Francs or 20 Belgas from 1929