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5 Francs French occupation of the Fezzan - WWII
| Issuer | French Military Authority (Fezzan) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1936-1938 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | A standard Banque de l'Afrique Occidentale 5 Francs note (French West Africa P-21) overstamped for use in the Fezzan territory under French military occupation. The central vignette presents a portrait of an African woman in traditional dress with beaded necklace, set against a lush tropical foliage underprint. A large rectangular black handstamp bearing the letters 'R F' above 'FEZZAN' — with individual letters measuring 12 to 14 mm in height — is applied to the left side of the obverse, validating the note for circulation in the Fezzan region. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | BANQUE DE L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE CINQ FRANCS R F FEZZAN LE PRÉSIDENT LE DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL |
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| Comments |
The Fezzan was a remote Saharan province of Italian Libya when French forces under General Leclerc seized it in January 1943 during the North African campaign. The occupation notes pressed into service there were not purpose-designed for the territory — the French military drew on existing Banque de France stock, which is why these pieces carry dates from the late 1930s, predating the occupation by several years.
Circulating among a sparse desert population with limited experience of French currency, many notes returned to military hands quickly and saw little wear. The Fezzan remained under French administration until Libyan independence in 1951.