The Banque Centrale des Comores (BCC), the central bank of the Union of the Comoros, put upgraded 5,000 and 10,000 franc notes dated 2025 into circulation in early January 2026, keeping the familiar look that collectors have known since the 2006 series (BanknoteNews, B311a). Both denominations carry forward their established design themes while adding fresh security and switching to a single governor’s signature, with the Union of the Comoros emblem now standing out as a prominent logo in optically variable ink.
What Changed on the 2025 Comoros Notes?
The headline change is the signature. Where the previous configuration carried multiple signatures, the 2025 notes show a single governor’s signature, that of Governor Dr. Younoussa Imani. For collectors who track signature variety, this is a clean and significant marker that separates the new issue from the older 2006 printings.
The second change is visual and protective at once. The national emblem now appears as the leading logo, printed in optically variable ink that shifts from gold to purple as the note is tilted. Alongside it, the reported security upgrades include:
· A holographic stripe carrying micro-patterns.
· A solid security thread with printed “BCC” lettering.
· A crescent moon watermark with BCC and electrotype stars.
These features modernize a design family that had stayed largely consistent for nearly two decades, so the underlying themes feel instantly recognizable while the protection underneath has moved on.
The 5,000 and 10,000 Franc Designs
Each denomination keeps its own character. The 5,000 francs (catalog B311) is predominantly purple. Its front carries the emblem of the Union of the Comoros in gold-to-purple optically variable ink, the Karthala volcano crater on Grande Comore, and President Said Mohamed Cheikh. The back pairs Arabic and French text with a baobab tree, a shore scene, and a nautilus shell.
The 10,000 francs (catalog B312) is predominantly yellow (BanknoteNews, B312a). The front shows French text, the same gold-to-purple emblem in optically variable ink, and the Friday Mosque in Moroni. The back combines Arabic and French text with green vanilla pods, a green sea turtle, and ylang-ylang flowers, motifs that tie directly to the islands’ agriculture and marine life.
How These Notes Fit a Comoros Collection
The 2025-dated notes co-circulate with the older 2006 series. No demonetization or mandatory exchange deadline has been announced, so the new and old issues now sit side by side as distinct varieties. That makes the 2025 pair a natural addition for anyone building a run of Comoros banknotes, whether the focus is design, signature changes, or security evolution. Examples graded by PMG and uncirculated (UNC) stock both help document the new emblem logo and the single-signature variety cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is new about the 2025 Comoros 5,000 and 10,000 franc notes?
They keep the 2006 design themes but add upgraded security and switch to a single governor’s signature, that of Dr. Younoussa Imani. The Union of the Comoros emblem now appears as a prominent logo in gold-to-purple optically variable ink.
What are the catalog references for the new notes?
The 5,000 francs is cataloged as B311 (B311a) and the 10,000 francs as B312 (B312a), both as new-design notes with the new logo and single signature.
Are the older 2006 Comoros notes still valid?
Yes. The 2025-dated notes co-circulate with the older 2006 series, and no demonetization or mandatory exchange deadline has been announced.
A Lasting Record of the Islands
The 2025 issue captures a quiet turning point for the archipelago’s currency: the same volcanoes, mosques, and ylang-ylang that have long defined Comorian money, carried into a more secure printing under a single signing governor. For collectors, that combination of continuity and change is exactly what makes a note worth keeping for the long run.