b81_0626 - 5 Francs Bougainville REUNION 1946 P.41a

REUNION ISLAND

Discovered in 1513 by the Portuguese Mascarenhas, the island became French in 1638. Named Bourbon Island, its concession was given to the East India Company in 1664 then, in 1793, it became Reunion Island. It has been one of the four overseas departments since 1946..