25 Francs - Mwambutsa IV Independence, Pattern

Burundi achieved independence from Belgian trusteeship on July 1, 1962, and the Banque du Royaume du Burundi was established almost simultaneously to assert monetary autonomy from the colonial franc zone. This pattern was struck as part of the evaluation process for the kingdom's inaugural coinage — pieces that would circulate under Mwambutsa IV, who had ruled as mwami since 1915 and would remain on the throne until his quiet deposition in absentia in 1966 while abroad in Geneva.

As a pattern, it never reached circulation. The approved circulation strikes followed under a different production arrangement.