Gabon. Bank of Central African States (BEAC). 1974-1984 Issues. Engraving on the front by Renaud. Dimensions: 157 x 81 mm. Material: paper. Watermark: Derby elk head. Printer: Bank of France and Oberthur Fiduciaire. No security thread. The note is dated 1-04-78 with the second combination of signatures. Multicolored front and back print, predominantly, red, orange and green. Texts in French. Description of the front: background composed of a repeating graphic motif. In the center at the top, the words "GABONESE REPUBLIC" are printed in purple in an orange cartridge. Below, the full banknote number is printed in black. The value “500” is printed in purple in the upper corners. The signatures, number and series of the note are printed in black. On the left, a young Gabonese woman wearing a scarf. In the center, the watermark and a scene of wood cutting in the forest. On the right, a local plant. The value in letters "FIVE HUNDRED FRANCS" is printed in red-orange at the bottom center. Two combinations of signatures printed in black with Le Governor and The Auditor. Description of the back: background composed of a repeating pattern. The value "500" is printed in purple in the upper corners. In the center at the top, the label of the issuing institute "BANK OF CENTRAL AFRICAN STATES" is printed in purple in an orange cartridge. Two carved wooden statues on the sides. In the center, a scene of students in the chemistry room. Bottom center, the article of the penal code is printed in an orange cartridge. The specimen is known as overprinted "SPECIMEN" in black diagonally with a specimen number below. The note is numbered "O.0 - 00000" and perforated "SPECIMEN" in vertical on the right. A proof is known without overprint, without perforation, without signatures and without numbering.