Add ruling authority to French West and Equatorial Africa

I got a banknote from French West Africa and it didn't have a ruling authority. As a history nerd, I tried to figure one out. To French Equatorial Africa as well. Should work for the French West African coins/tokens too.

French West Africa:

Second Colonial Empire (????-1895)

Third Republic (1895-1940)

Vichy (1940-1944)

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?e=aof&r=&ct=banknote&im1=&im2=&tbb=y&tbc=y&tbl=y&tbt=y&cat=y&ru=missing&ca=931&no=&v=&i=&b=&ib=&ie=&u=&a=&dg=&m=&f=&t=&t2=&mt=&g=&se=&d=&c=&wi=&sw=

French Equatorial Africa:

Third Republic (1910-1940)

Vichy Franch (1940)?

Free Franch (1940-1944)

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?e=aef&r=&ct=banknote&im1=&im2=&tbb=y&tbc=y&tbl=y&tbt=y&cat=y&ru=missing&ca=931&no=&v=&i=&b=&ib=&ie=&u=&a=&dg=&m=&f=&t=&t2=&mt=&g=&se=&d=&c=&wi=&sw=

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Africa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_colonial_empire#Second_French_colonial_empire

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Equatorial_Africa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_France

I feel it is not ruling authority they miss but issuing entity, notably BAO (banque de l'Afrique occidentale), which had emission privilege since 2nd Empire

Here you go: https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/1960/04/A/23550

Allow me to ask, maybe stupidly, so forgive me, but since I can't figure out the difference: Sometimes I can see the difference, but what's the difference between Issuing entity and ruling authority?

In this case the Franchs ruled over Equatorial and Western Africa at this time, right?

Please let me get a clear division on this once and for all 🤓

I agree it is complicated

Guidelines : Some banknotes, especially local or provisional notes, are issued by an entity (company, chamber of commerce, etc.) different from the government of the state. Type the name of this issuing entity in the field.

In near future issuing entity and issuing banks fields will be gathered

Compendium

In near future issuing entity and issuing banks fields will be gathered

Thank goodness for that. I never could understand why the extra field was introduced.

Compendium

I agree it is complicated

Guidelines : Some banknotes, especially local or provisional notes, are issued by an entity (company, chamber of commerce, etc.) different from the government of the state. Type the name of this issuing entity in the field.

 

In near future issuing entity and issuing banks fields will be gathered

A little late I get back, but I still don't get why there are cases where we don't add ruling authorities? I mean, Franche ruled over these lands, at the time, right? Same with Lower Canada for instance? It was the British monarchs who ruled over Canada at the time, right? I get there is an (annoying) difference between issuing bank and issuing entity, but I think I more or less got that.

Do you mind elaborating on the “ruling authority” then? 🤔😊

Like for exonumia, we put rulers only when they are depicted somehow on the item.

Another example with Holy Empire states: emperors are indicated only when explicitely indicated ln the coins, even if they were emperors all allng everywhere.

Goal is to make this field not theoretical but actionable, if it makes sense 

It kind of makes a little more sense now. Like with putting the ruler in the name of the item?

But that means a lot of coins and banknotes is not to be given a ruling authority? I mean, it's very few Danish banknotes which has the monarch on in any way. Icelandic banknotes doesn't has “Republic of Iceland” on them either. Some Doubles from the Channel Islands doesn't have the monarch on them, but still clearly within eg. Queen Elizabeth II's reign.

Maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time with the logic here? At least for the modern items. I understand why it makes sense with exonumia, but a bit harder with notes and coins? Maybe just my inner history nerd and I like everything in nice neat boxes..? 🤔😅

It is not necessarily the head of the monarch themself, but any coat of arms or symbol of the issuing authority

When there is just a bank or other entity, we do not add the legal ruler if not represented in some way on it

Non of the banknotes of Denmark and the Faroese Islands, currently assigned to Queen Magrethe II features her in any way.

Same with the Barbadian and (post-deci) Jamaican coins under Queen Elizabeth II. To give some examples.

And I think most people will agree with where/if those coins and notes go under, with a ruling authority?

I at least would keep them under there, if I was the referee.