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20 Francs
| Issuer | Banque Nationale du Rwanda |
|---|---|
| Year | 1962 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 149 x 80 mm |
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| Obverse description | A crocodile vignette occupies the right portion of the note, with a rectangular guilloche cartouche at left bearing the denomination in French. A two-line overprint reading 'BANQUE NATIONALE DU RWANDA / Le Gouverneur' is applied diagonally across the crocodile vignette, accompanied by a boxed date stamp. Two manuscript signatures appear at the lower left, with title designations 'UN ADMINISTRATEUR' and 'LE PRESIDENT', and the printer's imprint of Thomas De La Rue & Company appears at the bottom margin. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse is dominated by a large central guilloche medallion bearing the numeral '20', surrounded by intricate lathe-work patterns of interlocking rosettes in green. The bank name is lettered across the top and the denomination 'VINGT FRANCS' appears along the lower margin, with the denomination numeral '20' repeated in each corner. The printer's imprint of Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited appears at the bottom edge. |
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| Comments |
Rwanda's first national banknote series, issued following independence from Belgian-administered UN trusteeship in 1962. The Banque Nationale du Rwanda was itself newly established that year, and this note — Pick 1 in the catalogue — is the opening entry of an entirely new monetary system replacing the Rwandan franc notes previously issued under the Banque d'Émission du Rwanda et du Burundi, which had served both territories jointly until their separation.
Thomas De La Rue's involvement ensured technically competent production, as was typical for newly independent African states in the early 1960s that lacked domestic printing infrastructure. The series is genuinely scarce in higher grades, partly due to limited initial issue volumes and the political turbulence Rwanda experienced through the decade.