Congolese franc

This article is about the currency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For the Republic of Congo currency, see Central African CFA franc.
Congolese franc
franc congolais (French)
ISO 4217
Code CDF
Denominations
Subunit
 1/100 centime
Symbol FC
Banknotes 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 centimes, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000 francs
Demographics
User(s)  Democratic Republic of the Congo
Formerly:
 Belgian Congo
 Congo Free State
Issuance
Central bank Central Bank of the Congo
 Website www.bcc.cd
Valuation
Inflation 1.1%
 Source The World Factbook, 2015 est.

The franc is the currency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is subdivided into 100 centimes.

First franc, 1887–1967

During Belgian colonial rule, currency denominated in centimes and francs was issued for use in Congo. These francs were equal in value to the Belgian franc. From 1916, the Congolese franc also circulated in Rwanda and Burundi. From 1952, the currency was issued bearing the names Belgian Congo (either "Congo Belge" or "Belgische Congo") and "Ruanda-Urundi".

In 1960, Rwanda and Burundi adopted their own franc, whilst, between 1960 and 1963, Katanga also issued its own franc.

The franc remained Congo's currency after independence until 1967, when the zaïre was introduced, at a rate of 1 zaïre = 1000 francs.

Coins

In 1887, holed, copper coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 centimes, together with silver coins worth 50 centimes, and 1, 2, and 5 francs. Coins ceased to be minted of silver in 1896. Holed, cupro-nickel 5-, 10- and 20-centime coins were introduced in 1906, with the remaining copper coins (worth 1 and 2 centimes) minted until 1919. Cupro-nickel 50-centime and 1-franc coins were introduced in 1921 and 1920, respectively.

The coinage of Belgian Congo ceased in 1929, only to be resumed in 1936 and 1937 for the issue of nickel-bronze 5-franc coins. In 1943, hexagonal, brass 2-franc coins were introduced, followed by round, brass coins worth 1, 2 and 5 francs, and silver 50-franc coins, between 1944 and 1947.

In 1952, brass 5-franc coins were issued carrying the name "Ruanda-Urundi" for the first time.[1]

Aluminum coins worth 50 centimes, 1 and 5 francs followed between 1954 and 1957. In 1965, the only franc-denominated coins of the first Democratic Republic of Congo were issued, aluminum coins worth 10 francs.

As with Belgium's own coins, some types were issued in two distinct versions, one with French legends, the other with Dutch legends.

Banknotes

500 francs, issued by the Bank of the Belgian Congo, 1943 (obverse and reverse)

In 1896 the Independent State of Congo issued 10 and 100 franc notes. In 1912, the Bank of Belgian Congo introduced 20 and 1000 francs, followed by notes of 1, 5 and 100 franc notes in 1914. The 1-franc notes were only printed until 1920, whilst 10 franc notes were introduced in 1937. 500 francs were introduced in the 1940s, with 10,000 francs introduced in 1942.

In 1952, the Central Bank of Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi introduced notes for 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 francs, with 500 and 1000 francs added in 1953.

In 1961, the National Bank of Congo introduced notes for 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 francs, some of which were issued until 1964. In 1962, the Monetary Council of the Republic of Congo introduced 1000 franc notes, which were notes of the Central Bank of Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi overprinted with the Monetary Council's name. In 1963, the Monetary Council issued regular type 100 and 5000 franc notes.

Second franc, 1997–

The franc was re-established in 1997, replacing the new zaïre at a rate of 1 franc = 100,000 new zaïres. This was equivalent to 300,000,000,000,000 old francs.

Coins

Coins were issued but inflation having taken its toll, they are no longer used. The smallest note in use is 10 francs.

Banknotes

In July 1998, banknotes were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 francs, though all are dated 01.11.1997. 200-franc notes were introduced in 2000, followed by 500-franc notes in 2002. As of June, 2012 the only negotiable instrument in circulation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo are banknotes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 francs.

In 2010, Banque Centrale du Congo issued 20 million 500 franc banknotes to commemorate the country's 50th anniversary of independence from Belgium.[2]

On July 2, 2012, the Banque Centrale du Congo issued new banknotes in denominations of 1000, 5000, 10,000 and 20,000 francs.[3][4][5][6][7]

Banknotes of the Congolese franc (01.11.1997 issue)
Image Value Main color Obverse Reverse Watermark
1 centime Deep olive-green, violet and dark brown Coffee harvest Nyiragongo volcano Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
5 centimes Purple Suku mask Zande harp Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
10 centimes Red-violet and dark-brown Pende mask Pende dancers Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
20 centimes Blue-green and black Antelope Upemba National Park Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
50 centimes Dark brown and brown Okapi Okapis at Epulu Okapi Reserve Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically

 1 franc Deep purple and blue-violet GECAMINES Copper melting complex Patrice Lumumba with his comrades after his capture Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically

 5 francs Purple and black Rhinoceros, Garamba National Park Kamwanga falls Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically

 10 francs Olive-brown, olive-green and deep blue-green Luba carving "Tête-à-Tête" Luba carving Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically

 20 francs Brown-orange and red-orange Lion, Kundelongu Park Lioness with her cubs, Kundelongu Park Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
50 francs Olive-green Tshokwe mask "Mwana Pwo" Fishermen's village along the Congo River Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
100 francs Brown Elephant, Virunga National Park "Inga II" hydroelectric dam Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
Banknotes of the Congolese franc (04.01.2000 issue)
Image Value Main color Obverse Reverse Watermark

 50 francs Lilac-brown Tshokwe mask "Mwana Pwo" Fishermen's village along the Congo River Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically

 100 francs Slate blue Elephant, Virunga National Park "Inga II" hydroelectric dam Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
Banknotes of the Congolese franc (30.06.2000 & 04.01.2002 (2003) issues)
Image Value Main color Obverse Reverse Watermark

 200 francs Lilac and olive-green Fieldwork Drummers Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically

 500 francs Blue Diamond exploitation Diamond exploitation, Etroite Valley Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
Banknotes of the Congolese franc (02.02.2005 & 18.02.2006 (2012) issues)
Image Value Main color Obverse Reverse Watermark
1000 francs Green Okapi, Kanioka box African grey parrot; yellow corn Okapi and electrotype 1000
5000 francs Brown Zebras; Hemba statuette Bowl; bundles of maniok; two helmeted guineafowl Okapi and electrotype 5000
10,000 francs Violet Two water buffalos; carved statuette Bird on a branch; banana trees Okapi and electrotype 10,000
20,000 francs Yellow Giraffes; carved head "Bashilele" Palm trees; date clusters; two gray crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) birds Leopard head and electrotype 20,000
Current CDF exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD ZAR
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD ZAR
From XE: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD ZAR
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD ZAR
From fxtop.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD ZAR

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://i.colnect.com/images/items/full/803/109803.jpg
  2. ↑ Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Congo (Democratic Republic)". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
  3. ↑ Congo Democratic Republic new 1,000-, 5,000-, and 10,000-franc notes reported BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  4. ↑ Congo Democratic Republic new 5,000-franc note confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  5. ↑ Congo Democratic Republic new 1,000-franc note confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  6. ↑ Congo Democratic Republic new 10,000-franc note confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  7. ↑ Congo Democratic Republic new 20,000-franc note reported BanknoteNews.com. November 7, 2012. Retrieved on 2013-03-10.
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