5 francs CFP franc #381

Front

Emergency treasury note issued by Vichy French authorities in New Caledonia during World War II. The note bears the Free French Cross of Lorraine symbol at center, indicating resistance to Axis occupation. Dated 11 June 1943 ('ARRÊTÉ DU 11 JUIN 1943'), this is a wartime emergency issue. The text references Article 139 of the Penal Code regarding counterfeiting penalties. The design features tropical flora motifs (vanilla and coffee leaves) reflecting New Caledonia's agricultural economy.

Back

Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (1475–1526), Spanish conquistador and explorer who founded several Central American cities including Granada and León in Nicaragua. He is depicted at right in formal military attire. The note is denominated as 25 centavos de córdoba ('VEINTICINCO CENTAVOS DE CORDOBA') and issued by Banco Central de Nicaragua. This back design is from a much later Nicaraguan banknote and does NOT match the New Caledonian front—these are mismatched images of two completely different notes from different countries and eras.

History

CRITICAL: These images show TWO DIFFERENT BANKNOTES that are NOT a matched pair. FRONT: New Caledonia 5 francs emergency 'Bon de Caisse' (treasury voucher) issued 11 June 1943 during WWII under Vichy French administration, featuring the Cross of Lorraine. BACK: Nicaragua 25 centavos de córdoba from the Banco Central de Nicaragua modern series, featuring Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, issued decades later (likely 1990s based on security features visible). The front is a WWII-era Pacific emergency note; the back is a late-20th-century Central American banknote. These cannot be catalogued as a single item. For the New Caledonian note: emergency currency issued during Japanese threat to Pacific colonies, printed locally with minimal security features, withdrawn after Allied liberation 1944-1945. For the Nicaraguan note: part of post-Sandinista era Central Bank issues, modern intaglio printing with security thread visible.