2019-06-10 Mon

The Comoros is a volcanic archipelago off Africa’s east coast, in the warm Indian Ocean waters of the Mozambique Channel. The nation state’s largest island, Grande Comore (Ngazidja) is ringed by beaches and old lava from active Mt. Karthala volcano. Around the port and medina in the capital, Moroni, are carved doors and a white colonnaded mosque, the Ancienne Mosquée du Vendredi, recalling the islands’ Arab heritage.

It became part of the French colonial empire in the end of 19th century before becoming independent in 1975. The Comoros is one of the world's poorest countries. The Comoros Franc is the official currency of Comoros. It is nominally subdivided into 100 centimes, although no centime denominations have ever been issued. The first Comorian paper money was issued in 1920.

Today we are discussing a 1000 Francs banknote issued from 1984 to 2004. The obverse has the view of a coastline with palm trees in the background with a portrait of a young Comorian woman. The reverse depicts young women wearing head scarves harvesting Ylang Ylang (an aromatic flowering plant).

Image Courtesy: http://www.numismatics-vokurka.com/