Catalog
50 Makuta
| Issuer | Banque du Zaïre |
|---|---|
| Year | 1979-1980 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Zaire (1967-1993) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | At left, a vignette within an ornate cartouche portrays a traditionally costumed figure in ceremonial dress. To the right, a scene of traditional fish-trap structures erected in water is rendered in fine intaglio line work. A multicolour guilloche rosette bearing the numeral 50 and the inscription MAKUTA occupies the right portion, with the bank monogram in an oval cartouche at lower left and the BANQUE DU ZAÏRE legend in a panel across the bottom. |
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| Protection type | Watermark |
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| Comments |
Giesecke & Devrient took over the Zaïre printing contract from the Security Banknote Company in the mid-1970s, bringing Munich production to a currency already notorious for hyperinflationary pressure. By the time this 50 Makuta denomination was being issued across the 1979–1980 window, the makuta subdivision was rapidly losing practical relevance — inflation had long since made sub-zaire denominations near-worthless in daily commerce.
The lithographic production method rather than intaglio printing is worth noting; G&D typically reserved lithography for lower-denomination work where tactile security was considered less critical.