Algeria

The Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria is a North African country bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It was under French rule from 1848 to 1962 when it gained independence.

See Tunisia for Algerian notes with vertical TUNISIE overprint.

Banque de l'Algérie

The Banque de l’Algérie was created by the French Second Republic in 1851 as an issuing bank for Algeria. When Tunisia became a French Protectorate in 1881, BDA overprinted Algerian notes for use, and by 1949 specific designs were released for Tunisia.

1913-1942 Issues

B123a face
B123a face
B123a (
  • MK2a
  • P-77a
) 5 Francs Muslim Girl
Veiled Algerian woman at Port d'Algers, Amirauté Lighhouse
  • Printer: BdF
  • 7/28/1933
  • 127 x 88mm
  • Sig 4
  • Verification number at upper center

  • Watermark: Moorish Woman's head in profile

B123d face
B123d face
B123d (
  • MK3
  • P-77b
) 5 Francs Muslim Girl
  • 9/10/1941
  • Sig 2
  • Without verification number
B124b face
B124b face
B124b (
  • MK9b
  • P-78b
) 20 Francs Algerian Woman
Purple. Boys and Cactus
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1924-32
  • 165 x 105mm
  • Sig 4

  • Watermark: Arab text in crescent moon; Moorish Woman's head in profile

B127c face
B127c face
B127c (
  • MK27c
  • P-81b
) 100 Francs
Violet. Two Boys, Bedouin with Camel; Allegory of France teaching a child
  • Printer: BdF
  • 5/26/1933
  • 182 x 116mm
  • Sig 6

  • Watermark: Moorish Woman's head in profile; Arab text in crescent moon

1938-1945 Issues

B130c face
B130c face
B130c (
  • MK19b
  • P-84
) 50 Francs Algerian Couple
Ruins of El Djem Amphitheatre, Tunisia
  • Printer: BdF
  • 6/10/1942
  • 145 x 93mm
  • Sig 2
  • Date flanked by letters

  • Watermark: Moorish woman's head
B130d face
B130d face
B130d (
  • MK20
  • P-87
) 50 Francs Algerian Couple
  • 9/18/1942
  • Sig 2
  • Date flanked by letters (unique to 1942)
B130e face
B130e face
B130e (
  • MK20
  • P-87
) 50 Francs Algerian Couple
  • 11/29/1944
  • Sig 2
  • Date without letters
B131a face
B131a face
B131a (
  • MK28
  • P-85
) 100 Francs Algerian Man
Algerian Man wearing Turban; Farmer with Oxen
  • Printer: BdF
  • 7/12/1941
  • 157 x 93mm
  • Sig 8
  • Date without letters

  • Watermark: Moorish woman's head
B131c face
B131c face
B131c (
  • MK28
  • P-85
) 100 Francs Algerian Man
  • 6/20/1945
  • Sig 8
  • Date flanked by letters
  • Watermark: Moorish woman's head

Vichy Regime

After the fall of France to Germany in 1940, control of Algeria was transfered to the French Vichy regime.

1941-1942 Issues

B133a face
B133a face
B133a (
  • MK48
  • P-90a
) 5000 Francs Muslim Woman, Allegorial Woman
Moorish women with vases
  • Printer: BdF
  • 7/22/1942
  • 236 x 138mm
  • Sig 8

  • Watermark: Moorish Woman's head in profile; Rosette


Allied Occupation

After the Allies' sucessful Operation Torch in North Africa in 1942, control of the region was turned over to Free France.

1942-1943 Issues

B134a face
B134a face
B134a (
  • MK4
  • P-91
) 5 Francs Allegory of France
Dk. Green, Lt. Green.
  • Printer: Balounin, Algeria
  • 11/16/1942
  • 98 x 60mm
  • Sig 5
  • Cochard, M. FEC
  • Hervé, C. SC
  • (F)
B135b face
B135b face
B135b (
  • MK10a
  • P-92a
) 20 Francs Algerian Woman
Purple. Boys and Cactus
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/20/1944
  • 126 x 91mm
  • Sig 5
  • Date flanked by letters

  • Watermark: BANQUE DE L'ALGERIE pattern

B135c face
B135c face
B135c (
  • MK10b
  • P-92b
) 20 Francs Algerian Woman
  • 2/2/1945
  • Sig 2

B136a face
B136a face
B136a (
  • MK36
  • P-93
) 500 Francs
Blue. Two Boys, Bedouin with Camel; Allegory of France teaching a child
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1942-1945
  • 196 x 119mm

  • Watermark: Banque de l'Algerie

1944-1945 Issues

B137b face
B137b face
B137b (
  • MK5b
  • P-94b
) 5 Francs Muslim Girl
Veiled Algerian woman at Port d'Algers, Amirauté Lighhouse
  • 10/2/1944
  • 98 x 60mm
  • Sig 2

B138a face
B138a face
B138a (
  • MK37
  • P-95
) 500 Francs
Violet. Two Boys, Bedouin with Camel; Allegory of France teaching a child
  • Printer: BdF
  • 9/15/1944
  • 196 x 119mm

  • Watermark: BANQUE DE L'ALGERIE text

B141a face
B141a face
B141a (
  • MK62
  • P-96
) 1000 Francs Woman and Ship
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1945
  • 142 x 73mm
  • Not Issued
  • Boulet, C. FEC
  • Reguier, G. SC
  • (F)

  • Chapon, A. SC
  • (B)

Region Economiqe d'Algérie

Emergency issues produced in Algeria to address the lack of coinage when the Allied forces arrived in 1942.

1944 First Issue

B151a face
B151a face
B151a (
  • MK64
  • P-97a
) 50 Centimes
Red. Fig Tree, Palm Trees
  • Printer: Carbonel, Alger
  • 1/31/1944
  • Sig 2
  • Series C-C4

  • Hervé, C. SC
  • (F)
B151c face
B151c face
B151c (
  • MK67
  • P-100
) 50 Centimes
  • Sig 2
  • 2e T. Series I-I4

B152a face
B152a face
B152a (
  • MK65
  • P-98a
) 1 Franc
Dk. Blue. Fig Tree, Palm Trees
  • Printer: Carbonel, Alger
  • 1/31/1944
  • Sig 2
  • Series B-B4

  • Hervé, C. SC
  • (F)
B152c face
B152c face
B152c (
  • MK68
  • P-101
) 1 Franc
  • Sig 2
  • 2e T. Series H-H4

B153a face
B153a face
B153a (
  • MK66
  • P-99a
) 2 Francs
Black. Fig Tree, Palm Trees
  • Printer: Carbonel, Alger
  • 1/31/1944
  • Sig 2
  • Series A-A2

  • Hervé, C. SC
  • (F)
B153c face
B153c face
B153c (
  • MK69
  • P-102
) 2 Francs
  • Sig 2
  • 2e T. Series G-G3

1944 Second Issue

Banque de l'Algérie

The Banque de l’Algérie was created by the French Second Republic in 1851 as an issuing bank for Algeria. When Tunisia became a French Protectorate in 1881, BDA overprinted Algerian notes for use, and by 1949 specific designs were released for Tunisia.

1946-1949 Issues

B142a face
B142a face
B142a (
  • MK11
  • P-103
) 20 Francs Ornamental Design
Green.
  • 6/4/1948
  • 109 x 68mm
  • Sig 10
  • Khamassi, M. S. FEC
  • (F)

Banque de l'Algérie et de la Tunisie

Banque de l’Algérie officially changed its name to Banque de l’Algérie et de la Tunisie in 1948. It printed specific notes for each country.

1949-1958 Issues

B201c face
B201c face
B201c (
  • MK38b
  • P-106
) 500 Francs Bacchus and Ram
Roman Mosaic of Grape Harvesting
  • Printer: BdF
  • 5/22/1956
  • 159 x 82mm
  • Sig 2

  • Watermark: Moorish Woman's head in profile

B202c face
B202c face
B202c (
  • MK47
  • P-107b
) 1000 Francs Isis
Bust of Isis; Roman Mosaic, Plowing and Sowing Seeds
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/3/1954
  • 185 x 93mm
  • Sig 4

  • Watermark: Moorish Woman's head in profile



  • Broutin SC
  • (B)
B203bs face
B203bs face
B203bs (
  • MK50S1
  • P-109s
) 5000 Francs Statue of Apollo
Arch of Trajen at Timgad
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1949-1953
  • 205 x 105mm
  • Sig 2
  • Specimen


  • Broutin SC
  • (B)
B204a face
B204a face
B204a (
  • MK51
  • P-110
) 10,000 Francs Seagulls and City of Algiers
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/20/1957
  • 225 x 115mm
  • Sig 4

  • Watermark: Ram's Head

Banque de l'Algérie

After the 1958 independence of Tunisia, the bank resumed its former name, Banque de l'Algérie. Prior banknotes were overprinted with the French nouveaux franc and 1:100 revaluation.

1959 Issue

B147b face
B147b face
B147b (
  • MK57b
  • P-119a
) 10 New Francs Isis
Bust of Isis; Roman Mosaic, Plowing and Sowing Seeds
  • Printer: BdF
  • 6/2/1961
  • 185 x 92mm
  • Sig 13

  • Watermark: Moorish Woman's head in profile



  • Broutin SC
  • (B)

Banque Centrale d'Algérie

In 1962 Algeria proclaimed independence from France, and Banque de l'Algérie was replaced by the Banque Centrale d'Algérie. These are the last four notes produced by Banque de France for Algeria.

B301a face
B301a face
B301a (
  • P-122a
) 5 Dinars Vulture & Eagle
Shepherd
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/1/1964
  • 160 x 82mm
  • Sig 1

  • Watermark: Amir Abd el-Kader
B302a face
B302a face
B302a (
  • P-123a
) 10 Dinars Storks
Algerians Weaving a Carpet
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/1/1964
  • 182 x 93mm
  • Sig 1

  • Watermark: Amir Abd el-Kader
B303a face
B303a face
B303a (
  • P-124a
) 50 Dinars Mountain Sheep
Camel Caravan
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/1/1964
  • 207 x 109mm
  • Sig 1

  • Watermark: Amir Abd el-Kader
B304a face
B304a face
B304a (
  • P-125a
) 100 Dinars Port d'Algers Harbor Scene
Building complex in Diar Es Saada neighborhood of Algiers
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/1/1964
  • 221 x 112mm
  • Sig 1

  • Watermark: Amir Abd el-Kader

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