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First Issues
Africa |
 agnetic cards supplied by Swiss Autelca have been in use up to 1990. There were three values, 1500 F (50,000 issued), 3000 F (30,000), and 5000 F (15,000). A new series of definitives appeared later, with high printing; even if similar to the first ones, they had several differences. Then, in 1990, magnetic cards were discontinued and chip cards adopted. | |
 gypt is actually using magnetic cards supplied by Japanese Tamura, but up to 1991 the magstripe cards by Italian Urmet were in use.
The cards were of thin plastic-coated paper-board, and the first one, of which only 500 were printed, had a red arrow on it and it is now very rare indeed. Later on, the arrow became green and several similar definitives were issued. More recently, there have been some trials with optical and chip cards. | |
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  he first two optical cards at left have been reprinted several times during the years, and different reprints can be distinguished by control number on back (see feature on Landis & Gyr); but the real first card issued, the blue 60 units card, is easy to recognize as it had printed for mistake the words Adwin asa instead than Adwen asa. Some months later, the same card was reprinted with correct wordings, and the values of 120 and 240 units were added. The 240 units card was printed only that time with a mintage of just 10,000 and is now very hard to get. In 1994, Ghana P&T adopted a telephone system based on chip cards, which is still in use. |
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hip cards were introduced in 1991 and are still in use. The first card was a plain white definitive, with chip in AFNOR position and face value indicated in local value, while following issues had the value in units.
e have seen for a long period the plain white chip definitives in use in Mali, and now the pictorial ones; but before 1994, optical cards supplied by Landis & Gyr were in use. The first set of definitives (30, 60, and 120 units) were without notch, but then they were reprinted as notched cards.
ctually chip cards are in use in this african Country, but before 1994 there were magnetic cards supplied by swiss Autelca. During the first period, standard test cards were used, but these are distinguishable by their control numbers which have no prefix. There are two values, 20 and 40 Naira, the values being indicated by the first two numerals on the control.
ptical cards, only definitive with three values (30, 60 and 120 units), were supplied to Tchad by Landis & Gyr. The first issues were without notch while later on they were reprinted notched. Later on, in 1991, optical system was withdrawn and chip card phones installed.
andis & Gyr cards have been in use in Tunisia since 1983 and for several years only basic red cards were issued, with three values: 10 units, 20 units, and 50 units. The cards are without notch, color-coated type.
