Greysheet Catalog Details
Originally established by France as Institut d’Emission de l’Afrique Équatoriale et du Cameroun, in 1972 the bank reorganized and was renamed Banque des États de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of the Central African States, BEAC). In 1974, the BEAC issued the first banknotes for its members: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, and Republic of the Congo. The backs of the first series are standard in all member states, but the fronts differ from country to country, and include the member state name in French (in this case, République Centrafricaine). The République Centrafricaine gained its independence from France on 13 August 1960. The republic’s first president, David Dacko, was overthrown on 1 January 1966 in the Saint-Sylvestre coup d’état led by Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa. President Bokassa declared himself president for life in 1972. For more information, visit www.beac.int.