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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

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** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.

10 Francs 1944

Description

Watermark:

The head of Okapi.

watermark

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:

10 Francs 1944

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:

10 Francs 1944

Kigali

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.