{"title":"Guinea","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"guinea-p47b-500-francs-2017-unc-see-where-1-3-of-worlds-aluminum-begins","title":"| 5 pcs lot 5x Guinea P47b 500 Francs 2017 UNC—See Where 1\/3 of World's Aluminum Begins","description":"\u003ch3\u003eBanknote Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eP-47a — 2015, Minister of Finance: Karamokoba Camara\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eP-47b\u003c\/strong\u003e — 2017, Minister of Finance: Malado Kaba (this note)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mainly green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFront:\u003c\/strong\u003e Portrait of smiling Guinean woman with headscarf and hoop earrings at left; two doves; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Coat_of_arms_of_Guinea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCoat of Arms of the Republic of Guinea\u003c\/a\u003e at center (in use since 1993), featuring a dove with an olive branch and the motto \u003cem\u003eTravail, Justice, Solidarité\u003c\/em\u003e (Work, Justice, Solidarity); security thread present\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBack:\u003c\/strong\u003e Minehead and mining facility\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smiling woman\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 128 × 63 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing entity:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Central_Bank_of_the_Republic_of_Guinea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCentral Bank of the Republic of Guinea\u003c\/a\u003e (Banque centrale de la République de Guinée)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not confirmed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDemonetized:\u003c\/strong\u003e Current — not \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Demonetization_(currency)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003edemonetized\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Louncény Nabé, Governor; Malado Kaba, Minister of Finance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Guinean_franc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGuinean franc\u003c\/a\u003e (new franc, 1985–date, \u003cspan id=\"gnf-rate-display\" style=\"font-family: inherit; margin: 10px 0;\"\u003eFetching live USD to GNF rate...\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cscript\u003e\n  async function getUSDtoGNF() {\n    const amountUSD = 1;\n    try {\n      const response = await fetch('https:\/\/www.floatrates.com\/daily\/usd.json');\n      const data = await response.json();\n      const rateToGNF = data.gnf.rate;\n      const convertedAmount = Math.round(amountUSD * rateToGNF);\n      const formattedGNF = convertedAmount.toLocaleString();\n      document.getElementById('gnf-rate-display').innerHTML = `${amountUSD} USD = ${formattedGNF} GNF)`;\n    } catch (error) {\n      document.getElementById('gnf-rate-display').innerHTML = \"Currency data temporarily unavailable.\";\n      console.error(\"Exchange rate fetch failed:\", error);\n    }\n  }\n  getUSDtoGNF();\n\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Guinea\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name \u003cem\u003eGuinea\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e Disputed. Theories: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Berber_languages\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBerber\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cem\u003eAguinaw\u003c\/em\u003e \/ \u003cem\u003eAkal n-Iguinawen\u003c\/em\u003e (\"land of black people\"), used by North African traders; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Soninke_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSoninke\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cem\u003eGuinaw\u003c\/em\u003e (\"women\") or place name in \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ghana_Empire\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGhana Empire\u003c\/a\u003e; Portuguese corruption of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Djenn%C3%A9\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDjenné\u003c\/a\u003e trading town. Applied loosely by Europeans to entire West African coast before attachment to specific territories.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapital:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conakry\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eConakry\u003c\/a\u003e (city pop. ~2.0 million; metro pop. ~2.5 million) — name theories: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Susu_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSusu\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cem\u003e\"Cona\"\u003c\/em\u003e (local chief\/clan) + \u003cem\u003e\"nakiri\"\u003c\/em\u003e (\"other side\" \/ \"across water\"); or Susu \u003cem\u003e\"ko nakiri\"\u003c\/em\u003e (\"place across\" \/ \"far bank\"), referring to settlement on \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tombo_Island\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTombo Island\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePopulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~14 million (UN 2024) — similar to Illinois; more than Belgium but less than the Netherlands\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 245,857 km² (~94,926 mi²) — similar to Oregon; less than Romania but greater than the United Kingdom\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGDP per capita at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purchasing_power_parity\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePPP\u003c\/a\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~$2,900 USD (IMF 2024) — ranks ~172nd out of 193 globally\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMain exports:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bauxite\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBauxite\u003c\/a\u003e, gold, diamonds, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aluminium_oxide\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ealumina\u003c\/a\u003e, coffee, fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBorders:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Guinea-Bissau\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGuinea-Bissau\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Senegal\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSenegal\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mali\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMali\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ivory_Coast\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCôte d'Ivoire\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Liberia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLiberia\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sierra_Leone\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSierra Leone\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial\/spoken languages:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/French_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFrench\u003c\/a\u003e (official); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fula_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePular (Fula)\u003c\/a\u003e (~40%), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mandinka_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMandinka\u003c\/a\u003e (~30%), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Susu_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSusu\u003c\/a\u003e (~20%)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSovereignty:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fula_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFula\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mandinka_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMandinka\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Susu_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSusu\u003c\/a\u003e kingdoms and chieftaincies (pre-colonial)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/French_Guinea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFrench Guinea\u003c\/a\u003e (colonial territory, 1891–1958)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Guinea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRepublic of Guinea\u003c\/a\u003e (2 October 1958–date) — first sub-Saharan African country to vote for independence from France; \u003ci\u003ethis note issued during this period\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGuinea Unfiltered\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuinea holds an estimated \u003cstrong\u003eone-third of the world's \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bauxite\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ebauxite\u003c\/a\u003e reserves\u003c\/strong\u003e — the ore from which \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aluminium\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ealuminium\u003c\/a\u003e is made. The mining facility on the reverse is not decorative. It is the country's primary economic reality.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn 1958, Guinea was the only French African territory to vote \u003cem\u003enon\u003c\/em\u003e in \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/French_constitutional_referendum,_1958\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ede Gaulle's referendum\u003c\/a\u003e on the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/French_Community\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFrench Community\u003c\/a\u003e. France responded by withdrawing all aid, personnel, and infrastructure within two months — reportedly even removing \u003cstrong\u003elight bulbs from government buildings\u003c\/strong\u003e on the way out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuinea's first president, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ahmed_S%C3%A9kou_Tour%C3%A9\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSékou Touré\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, ruled for 26 years and built one of the most repressive states in post-colonial Africa. An estimated \u003cstrong\u003e50,000 people died in his prisons\u003c\/strong\u003e, including at the notorious \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Camp_Boiro\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCamp Boiro\u003c\/a\u003e. He was celebrated internationally as an anti-colonial hero for most of that time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuinea has experienced \u003cstrong\u003efour coups since independence\u003c\/strong\u003e — in 1984, 2008, 2021, and 2022 — yet its currency has remained in continuous use, redenominated once in 1985 at a rate of 1 new franc = 100 old \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Guinean_syli\" target=\"_blank\"\u003esylis\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA Smiling Woman Who Outlasted Four Coups\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe smiling woman on the obverse is not a named historical figure — she is a portrait of \u003cstrong\u003eGuinean womanhood\u003c\/strong\u003e, a face chosen to represent the country's people rather than its rulers. Her \u003cstrong\u003eheadscarf and hoop earrings\u003c\/strong\u003e are everyday dress; the two doves beside her carry the same symbolism as the dove on the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Coat_of_arms_of_Guinea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCoat of Arms\u003c\/a\u003e at center — peace, rendered twice. Her watermark echo ties the security of the note to her image. Four governments have come and gone. She remains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOne-Third of the World's Aluminum Starts Here\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eminehead\u003c\/strong\u003e on the reverse is Guinea's economic story in a single image. One-third of the world's aluminium starts in the red laterite hills of the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fouta_Djallon\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFouta Djallon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e. The ore leaves Guinea as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bauxite\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ebauxite\u003c\/a\u003e; it returns as aircraft, cars, and cans. The value added happens elsewhere. The note acknowledges the extraction without explaining the economics. Guinea's largest mining operations — including the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Simandou\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSimandou\u003c\/a\u003e iron ore project, one of the largest untapped iron ore deposits on earth — have attracted investment from \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rio_Tinto_(corporation)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRio Tinto\u003c\/a\u003e, Chinese state companies, and others for decades, with production repeatedly delayed by political instability and infrastructure challenges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOwn This Note from the Country That Said No to France\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGuinea's 500 Francs note is an affordable, uncirculated piece from one of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/West_Africa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Africa\u003c\/a\u003e's most resource-rich and politically turbulent countries. The smiling woman has watched four governments come and go. The mine keeps running. The note keeps circulating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small denomination from a country sitting on a third of the world's aluminium.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51840223543607,"sku":"GN47U","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/47bo.jpg?v=1778437061"}],"url":"https:\/\/worldmoneystore.com\/collections\/guinea.oembed","provider":"World Money Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}