Description
The Congolese franc is the official currency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The franc as a denomination was first introduced in 1887 as the Belgian colony of the Congo until 1967, when the zäire replaced it. After the First Congo War (1996 – 1997), the franc was reintroduced again, replacing the zäire. In 1998, notes were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 francs, followed by the 200 francs note in 2000 500 francs note in 2002. In 2012, the “Banque Centrale du Congo” issued a new banknote series in denominations of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 francs.
The 20000 Congolese note front design features a Bashilele jar, from the “Lele” people related with Kuba Kingdom (a traditional Central African kingdom that flourished in the heart of today’s Democratic Republic of the Congo), a couple of giraffes, the “Banque Centrale du Congo” (Central Bank of Congo) symbol, a sketch of the map of the republic and the denomination. The reverse note side illustrates a pair of grey crowned cranes on a background of palm trees and their fruits, from which palm oil is extracted, a sketch of the map of the republic and the denomination in English and Swahili (African language). This note is part of the 2006 – 2013 series, and its color is yellow and brown.
Text: Banque Centrale Du Congo, BCC, RDC, Le Gouverneur, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Giesecke & Devrient Munich, Elfu Makumi Mbili, Binunu Makumi Habidi, Koto Tuku Mibale, Mafunda Kumi Zole, Bashilele, Le Contrafacteur Est Puni De Servitude Penale, Twenty Thousand Francs, 20000F, 20000, Vingt Mille Francs, 30.06.2013.