Catalog
10 Francs
| Issuer | Banque du Congo Belge |
|---|---|
| Year | 1937 |
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| Currency | Franc (1887-1960) |
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| Obverse description | Central vignette presents a lively Congolese village market scene rendered in fine intaglio, with groups of figures engaged in trade and daily activity set against a busy background of additional villagers. The denomination DIX FRANCS appears in large lettering at the top centre, flanked by serial numbers in two positions, with the date 10-09-37 at the foot. A blank oval reserve occupies the lower right, and decorative guilloche panels with interlocking bank monograms frame the composition on both sides. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A pair of waterbuck antelopes dominates the foreground of the central vignette, rendered in detailed intaglio against an open savanna landscape with acacia trees and additional antelope visible in the middle distance. The denomination TIEN FRANK appears in bold lettering at the top centre, with a blank oval reserve at the left. Decorative guilloche borders and bank monogram medallions in relief frame the design on both sides. |
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| Comments |
Waterlow & Sons printed this note at a time when their security printing operation was still rebuilding its commercial reputation following the Artur Virgílio Alves Reis Portuguese banknote scandal of 1925, in which forged Banco de Portugal notes had been produced using a genuine Waterlow contract. The Banque du Congo Belge continued to use them regardless — Waterlow remained technically capable despite the reputational damage.
André Hallet was a Belgian painter who spent years in the Congo and is better known for his ethnographic canvases than for banknote design work. His involvement here is unusual. The engraving was executed by Endre Horváth, a Hungarian-born engraver who worked extensively for Waterlow during this period.