Where did this money come from?
CFA franc
A history told through its predecessors and the currencies that followed.
11 ancestors5 descendantsEstablished connections in this atlas
Follow a name to its history. Select a dated connection for its evidence.
DocumentedQualified
This currency also received later contributions, distinguished below from its origins.
The incoming line
All 11 ancestors shown. Predecessors lead down to the selected currency. Later contributions join an existing currency; they do not establish its origin.
Predecessor332 BC–259 BC
Attic drachma accountingQualified · Intervening stages openLater contributionAD 296–AD 351
Egyptian silver drachma accountingQualified · Later contributionPredecessorAD 274–AD 375
Roman as–denarius–sestertius accountingQualified · Intervening stages openPredecessorAD 400–AD 700
Roman solidus–nomisma accountingQualified · Intervening stages openMultiple connections
Frankish denier–livre reckoning2 connections · Includes qualified linksPredecessor1435–1436
Portuguese dinheiro–soldo–libra accountingDocumentedPredecessor1795–1799
Livre tournoisDocumentedPredecessor1911
Portuguese realDocumentedPredecessor1945
French francDocumentedPredecessor1976
Portuguese escudoDocumentedLater contribution1997
Guinea-Bissau pesoDocumented · Later contributionThis currencyXOF
CFA francDates, conversion terms and evidence 12 connections
Livre tournois French franc
1795–1799Documented1.0125 Livre tournois = 1 French francThe tariff equates 1.0125 livres tournois with 1 franc. Preferred reported date: 25 germinal IV / 14 April 1796 (S16). S17 says 24 germinal. Day remains withheld pending the original act.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Guinea-Bissau peso CFA franc
1997DocumentedLater contribution or absorption65 Guinea-Bissau peso = 1 XOFGuinea-Bissau exchanges pesos for CFA francs. Currency changeover is separate from union accession.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Portuguese real Portuguese escudo
1911Documented1 escudo = 1,000 réis
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Frankish denier–livre reckoning Livre tournois
Evidence period: AD 794–1204QualifiedA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Egyptian silver drachma accounting Roman as–denarius–sestertius accounting
Evidence period: AD 296–AD 351QualifiedLater contribution or absorptionA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗French franc CFA franc
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Portuguese escudo Guinea-Bissau peso
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Portuguese dinheiro–soldo–libra accounting Portuguese real
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Roman solidus–nomisma accounting Frankish denier–livre reckoning
Evidence period: AD 400–AD 700QualifiedEarlier ancestry; intervening stages remain openA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Frankish denier–livre reckoning Portuguese dinheiro–soldo–libra accounting
Evidence period: AD 800–1145QualifiedEarlier ancestry; intervening stages remain openA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Attic drachma accounting Egyptian silver drachma accounting
Evidence period: 332 BC–259 BCQualifiedEarlier ancestry; intervening stages remain openA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Roman as–denarius–sestertius accounting Roman solidus–nomisma accounting
Evidence period: AD 274–AD 375QualifiedEarlier ancestry; intervening stages remain openA span of evidence, not an exact foundation date.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗What followed
3 direct successors or branches connected to this currency.
This currencyXOF
CFA francSuccessor or branch
Guinean franc, first unit1960Documented1 XOF = 1 Guinean franc, first unit
Successor or branch
Malian franc1962Documented1 XOF = 1 Malian franc
Successor or branchMRU
Mauritanian ouguiya1973Documented5 XOF = 1 MRU
Keep going forwardExplore all 5 descendants +
The complete outgoing line
Follow successors and branches straight forward. Other parents of a descendant are not added to this path.
This currencyXOF
CFA francSuccessor or branch1960
Guinean franc, first unitDocumentedSuccessor or branch1962
Malian francDocumentedSuccessor or branch1972
Guinean syliDocumentedSuccessor or branch1986
Guinean francDocumentedSuccessor or branch1973
Mauritanian ouguiyaDocumentedDates, conversion terms and evidence 5 connections
CFA franc Guinean franc, first unit
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗Guinean syli Guinean franc
1986Documented1 Guinean syli = 1 GNFGuinea restores the franc. Use changeover date rather than 1985 note-series dating.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗CFA franc Malian franc
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗CFA franc Mauritanian ouguiya
1973Documented5 XOF = 1 MRUMauritania introduces the ouguiya. Effective date per Bundesbank; earlier political decisions should be separate events.
Read the evidence and qualifications ↗