New Hebrides franc
1893699
211471354
2008-05-10T14:59:33Z
Toronto2301
1890463
/* Banknotes */ août
{{Infobox Currency
| image_1 =
| image_title_1 =
| iso_code =
| using_countries = [[New Hebrides]]
| inflation_rate = -
| inflation_source_date =
| subunit_ratio_1 = 100
| subunit_name_1 = [[centime]]
| symbol = Fr
| used_coins = 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 francs
| used_banknotes = 100, 500, 1000 francs
| issuing_authority = [[Institut d'émission d'Outre-Mer]] (IEOM)
| issuing_authority_website = www.ieom.fr
| obsolete_notice = Y
}}
The '''franc''' was the currency of the [[Anglo-French Condominium]] of the Pacific island group of the [[New Hebrides]] (which became [[Vanuatu]] in [[1980]]). It circulated alongside British and later Australian currency. The New Hebrides franc was nominally divided into 100 [[centime]]s, although the smallest denomination was the 1 franc. Between 1945 and 1969, it was part of the [[CFP franc]].
==History==
Until the [[Second World War]], the New Hebrides used the [[French franc]] and the [[British pound|British]] and [[Australian pounds]]. In 1941, the [[Free French]] forces introduced paper money for circulation on the New Hebrides. In 1945, the [[CFP franc]] was introduced to insulate France's Pacific colonies from the devaluation of the [[French franc]] and the New Hebrides used a combination of [[New Caledonian franc]] coins and locally issued notes.
In 1949, the CFP franc's relationship to the French franc stablized at 5.5 French francs = 1 CFP franc. From 1959, the exchange rate to the [[Australian pound]] was almost exactly 200 francs = 1 pound. This rate became 100 francs = 1 [[Australian dollar]] in 1966 when the dollar was introduced. The Australian dollar circulated alongside the local currency.
From 1966, coins were produced in the name of the New Hebrides. In 1969, the New Hebrides franc broke away from the CFP franc and maintained the relationship with the Australian dollar of 100 francs = 1 dollar until 1973. In 1982, the franc was replaced at par by the [[Vanuatu vatu|vatu]] following independence as [[Vanuatu]]. At the same time, the Australian dollar ceased to officially circulate.
==Coins==
In 1966, silver 100 franc coins were introduced. These were followed by nickel 10 and 20 francs in 1967, nickel-brass 1, 2 and 5 francs in 1970 and nickel 50 francs in 1972. Only the nickel coins (10, 20, and 50 francs) were the same size, composition, and obverse as the corresponding [[French Polynesian franc|French Polynesian]] and [[New Caledonian franc|New Caledonian coins]].
The overall design has not changed since the introduction of the New Hebrides franc coins. The only notable change is the addition of "I.E.O.M" ([[Institut d'émission d'Outre-Mer]]) in 1973.
==Banknotes==
The first New Hebridian banknote was issued in 1921, a 25 franc note of the ''Comptoirs Français des Nouvelles Hébrides'' (French Trading Posts of the New Hebrides) dated 22 août (August) 1921. This is a very rare note. The New Hebrides began issuing banknotes again in 1941. These were overprints on [[New Caledonia]]n banknotes (issued by the ''Banque de l'Indochine''), in denominations of 5, 20, 100, 500 and 1000 francs. The same denominations were issued in 1943 by the [[Free French]] ''Services Nationaux Français des Nouvelles Hébrides''.
In 1965, the ''Institut d'Emission d'Outre-Mer'' took over the issuance of paper money on the New Hebrides and introduced notes in denominations of 100, 500 and 1000 francs between 1965 and 1972. Unlike the French Polynesian and New Caledonian counterparts, New Hebrides never had a 5000 franc note.
==See also==
*[[CFP franc]]
*[[New Caledonian franc]]
*[[French Polynesian franc]]
==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{numis cite SCWC|date=1991}}
*{{numis cite SCWPM|date=1994}}
*{{cite web | author=[[Reserve Bank of Vanuatu]] | url= http://www.rbv.gov.vu/RBVHistory.htm | title=Brief History of the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu | accessdate=2007-07-20}}
{{refend}}
==External links==
{{Standard numismatics external links
| world_coin_gallery_1_url = Vanuatu
| world_coin_gallery_1_name = New Hebrides
| banknote_world_1_url = new_hebrides
| banknote_world_1_name = New Hebrides
| dollarization_1_url =
| dollarization_1_name =
| gfd_1_url = Vanuatu
| gfd_1_name = New Hebrides
| gfd_data_1_url =
| gfd_data_1_name =
| show_gfd_excel = Y
}}
{{Franc}}
[[Category:Currencies of Oceania]]
[[Category:Modern obsolete currencies]]
[[Category:New Caledonia]]