Banknotes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo or Congo-Kinshasa is a country in Central Africa bordering the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. It remains largely unexplored to this day, but was first mapped by Pierre de Brazza, which allowed for Leopold II of Belgium to lay claim to the region as the Congo Free State during the Scramble for Africa in 1885. Reports of human rights abuses on rubber farms there led the Belgian government to take over the territory in 1908, and it became the Belgian Congo, or Lower Congo to distinguish it from the French Congo, or Middle Congo. Ruanda-Urundi (now Rwanda and Burundi) was attached to it from German East Africa after WWI in 1919; it was a supplier of uranium to the Allies in WWII, and gained it's formal independence from Belgium after the war in 1960. After attempted secession by Katanga, the DRC became an anti-communist right-wing dictatorship during the Cold War, known as Zaïre until 1997. After two civil wars in 1996-2003, the DRC is only a little closer to democracy as of 2018. It currently has a population of about 78.7 million, and uses the Congolese franc. The Belgian Congo was first acquired by King Léopold II in 1885 as the Congo Free State, and coinage on par with the Belgian Franc was issued in 1887-1892. The Congo Free State became notorious for human rights abuses, and was given to the Belgian government in 1908, whereupon coins in the Belgian Congolese Franc were issued starting in 1911. Ruanda-Urundi was attached to it following its acquisition from Germany in 1919. During the 2nd World War, the Belgian Free Forces were based in the Belgian Congo, and brass and silver coinage was minted. The colony became independent as the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1960. The Congo Free State is the former name of present-day Republic of Congo, when it was awarded to the Belgian King Leopold II during the Berlin Conference in 1885. He made a lot of money exploiting the locals for his rubber enterprises. Due to bad conditions and epidemics many millions of Congolese died, but no accurate records exist. International pressure led to the annexation of Congo Free State by the Belgian state in 1908, which marked the start of Belgian Congo.
Wikidata: Q974

Periods from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) (1960-1971), Zaire (1971-1997), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997-date)

Display options95 results found.
Order by: face value - ruling authority - type - date - reference
Results per page: 10 - 20 - 50 - 100 - 200

Congo, Democratic Republic of the › Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) (1960-1971) • Franc (1960-1967)

100 Centimes = 1 Franc

Available for swap 20 Francs
1961-1962

Standard banknote

P# 4, N# 259291
Available for swap 50 Francs
1961-1962

Standard banknote
140 × 63 mm
P# 5, N# 201828
Available for swap 100 Francs
1961-1964

Standard banknote

P# 6, N# 259293
Available for swap 100 Francs
1963

Standard banknote

P# 1, N# 259287
500 Francs
1961-1964

Standard banknote

P# 7, N# 259294
Available for swap 1000 Francs
1961-1964

Standard banknote

P# 8, N# 220639
1000 Francs
1962

Standard banknote
184 × 106 mm
P# 2, N# 259288
5000 Francs
1963

Standard banknote

P# 3, N# 259289

Congo, Democratic Republic of the › Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) (1960-1971) • Zaire (1967-1993)

100 Sengi = 1 Likuta • 100 Makuta = 1 Zaïre

Available for swap 10 Makuta
1967-1970

Standard banknote
138 × 64 mm
P# 9, N# 233745
Available for swap 20 Makuta
1967-1970

Standard banknote
156 × 66 mm
P# 10, N# 242365
Available for swap 50 Makuta
1967-1970

Standard banknote
150 × 69 mm
P# 11, N# 242367
Available for swap 1 Zaire
1967-1970

Standard banknote
160 × 72 mm
P# 12, TBB# 209, N# 259296
5 Zaires
1967-1970

Standard banknote
171 × 76 mm
P# 13, N# 259298

Congo, Democratic Republic of the › Zaire (1971-1997) • Zaire (1967-1993)

100 Sengi = 1 Likuta • 100 Makuta = 1 Zaïre

Available for swap 50 Makuta
1973-1979

Standard banknote
149 × 75 mm
P# 16, N# 212327
Available for swap 50 Makuta
1979-1980

Standard banknote
151 × 75 mm
P# 17, N# 201666
Available for swap 1 Zaïre
1972-1977 (1971-1980)

Standard banknote
158 × 78 mm
P# 18, N# 202290
Available for swap 1 Zaire
1979-1981

Standard banknote
160 × 80 mm
P# 19, N# 205073
Available for swap 5 Zaires
1971

Standard banknote
170 × 82 mm
P# 14, N# 259301
5 Zaïres
1972

Standard banknote

P# 20, N# 259597
Available for swap 5 Zaïres
1974-1977

Standard banknote
170 × 85 mm
P# 21, N# 206166

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