On December 15, 2003, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) put two banknotes worth CFA F 5,000 and 1,000 into circulation. This marked the third and final phase of the BCEAO banknote renewal operation.
Coins worth CFA F 500 and 200 were issued on December 24, 2003.
Characteristics of the CFA F 5,000 banknote
The dominant colour of the banknote is green.
![5000](/sites/default/files/inline-images/5000-1.jpg)
Designs on the front
As with all of the other denominations in this range of notes, the main design on the front of the CFA F 5,000 banknote is the BCEAO logo, depicting a sawfish.
The theme on the front also focuses on agricultural production, symbolized by a banana plantation and an aerial view of hydro-agricultural facilities.
![5000](/sites/default/files/inline-images/5000-2.jpg)
Designs on the back
The back of the CFA F 5,000 note depicts a pair of antelopes in the foreground, against a typical savanna backdrop.
Format
The dimensions of the CFA F 5,000 banknote are 140 mm by 74 mm.
Characteristics of the CFA F 1,000 banknote
![1000](/sites/default/files/inline-images/1000-1.jpg)
The dominant colour of the banknote is red.
Designs on the front
Like the other denominations in the range of notes, the main design on the front of the CFA F 5,000 banknote is the BCEAO logo, namely a stylized sawfish.
The front of the CFA F 1,000 banknote is also dedicated to the health and education sectors, as illustrated by a pharmaceutical caduceus and medical cross, along with books, a slate and a globe.
![1000](/sites/default/files/inline-images/1000-2.jpg)
Designs on the back
On the back, a pair of dromedaries are depicted against a typically Sahelian background.
Format
The dimensions of the CFA F 1,000 banknote are 125 mm by 66 mm.
Security features on the CFA F 5,000 and CFA F 1,000 banknotes
![money](/sites/default/files/inline-images/bigtime.jpg)
Security features incorporated in these banknotes can be authenticated by looking at them, tilting them or touching them :
- The Central Bank logo, the sawfish, and the face value in figures appear in watermarks;
- . The face value in figures is printed, on the front, in the upper left-hand corner, and on the back, in the upper right, with designs that align perfectly when the banknotes are held up to the light;
- A security thread, discontinuously overprinted with miniature characters alternately representing “UMOA” (WAMU, in French) and the face value in figures, can be seen across the top of both banknotes;
- Miniature characters on the back of both banknotes represent the face value in figures;
- On the back, a vertical, reflective strip (a yellow/grey, bicolour, iridescent strip), is inscribed with the face value in figures;
- On the front, the Central Bank logo, the friezes surrounding the logo, and the face values in figures and in letters are embossed and are tactually perceptible.
- The CFA F 5,000 banknote also contains a discontinuous holographic diffraction pattern.
Characteristics of the CFA F 500 and CFA F 200 coins
The CFA F 500 and CFA F 200 coins that were put into circulation on December 24, 2003, are bicolour and can be described as follows :
![piece](/sites/default/files/inline-images/piece_0.jpg)
Technical characteristics
CFA F 500
Outer ring: Yellow
Centre: White
Diameter: 28.80 millimetres
Thickness: 2.35 millimetres
Weight: 10.60 grams
CFA F 200
Outer ring: White
Centre: Yellow
Diameter: 24.50 millimetres
Thickness: 2.00 millimetres
Weight: 7.00 grams
Theme
Both coins have one side embossed with the BCEAO logo of a stylized sawfish and with the inscription: "BANQUE CENTRALE DES ETATS DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST” (CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES) on the outer ring.
On the back, the designs on the CFA F 500 coin represent the main export crops of the WAEMU Zone (groundnuts, cocoa, coffee and cotton) and those on the CFA F 200 coin represent the main food crops (millet, maize, bananas and rice).