10 Francs 1944, Belgian Congo
| in Krause book | Number: 14d |
| Years of issue: | 10.06.1944 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Le Directeur Adjoint en Afrique: Richard Baseleer, Le Directeur en Afrique: René Goeman |
| Serie: | Banque du Congo Belge |
| Specimen of: | 1941 |
| Material: | 100% raw cotton |
| Size (mm): | 129 x 84 |
| Printer: | Waterlow and Sons Limited, London |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
The head of Okapi.
The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a giraffid artiodactyl mammal native to the Ituri Rainforest, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa. Although the okapi bears striped markings reminiscent of zebras, it is most closely related to the giraffe. The generic name Okapia derives from the Lese Karo name o'api, while the specific name (johnstoni) is in recognition of the explorer Harry Johnston, who organized the expedition that first acquired an okapi specimen for science from the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Avers:
Vatutsi in the dance.
Tootsie (also referred to as Vatutsi) - the people in central Africa (Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo). Population - approximately 2 million people.
Denominations in numerals are in top corners. In words in top center.
Revers:
On the photo is the colonial army of Belgian Congo in Kigali, capital of Rwanda (former territory of German East Africa), in 1921.
Soldiers on the ground parade.
Denominations in numerals are in three corners. In words in lower right corner.
Comments:
Interesting facts:
1) Area of the possessions of HM King Leopold II in the Congo was 76 times the size of Belgium itself.
2) In the 1890s, Burundi (Ruanda - Burundi) was a German colony, and after World War I became a part of the Belgian Congo.
3) Uranium for atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was produced on the Congolese mines of Katanga province.
If you find my work useful I will be grateful for any help in supporting the site.
-
PayPal