5 Francs

The Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands consist of Kerguelen Islands, the St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands, the Crozet Islands, Adélie Land and the Scattered Islands (which are a dispersed group of islands around the coast of Madagascar).

The territory has no permanent civilian population. Those resident consist of visiting military personnel, officials, scientific researchers and support staff.

The French Southern and Antarctic Lands have formed a territoire d'outre-mer (an overseas territory) of France since 1955. Formerly, they were administered from Paris by an administrateur supérieur assisted by a secretary-general; since December 2004, however, their administrator has been a préfet, with headquarters in Saint-Pierre on Réunion Island.

The territory is divided into five districts. Each district is headed by a district chief, who has powers similar to those of a French mayor (including recording births and deaths and being an officer of judicial police). Because there is no permanent population, there is no elected assembly, nor does the territory send representatives to the national parliament.

This issue is part of a series of coins dedicated to French Overseas Departments and Territories.