10 francs 1958

Common. This note appears frequently in the collector market with consistent eBay sales activity across multiple condition grades spanning from 2010 to 2024. Recent VF-grade examples have sold in the $13–$36 range (2020–2024), with F-grade notes typically bringing $8–$20. The 2016 catalog valuation of $7.50 for VF aligns with observed market activity. The note was issued during a three-year period (1956–1959) with presumably substantial print runs to serve the colonial administration's currency needs. Pick number P-30b is one of two variants catalogued for the 10 Francs denomination, with no evidence of scarcity for either variant.

This note was issued during the final years of Belgian colonial rule in Congo, just two years before the Congo Crisis and independence in June 1960. The bilingual French/Dutch inscriptions reflect Belgium's linguistic divisions, while the imagery of the Force Publique soldier (referenced in catalog data) and native antelope symbolized the colonial administration's presentation of order and natural wealth. The April 1958 issue date places this within a period of increasing nationalist sentiment and constitutional discussions that would culminate in the rapid decolonization of the Belgian Congo.

The obverse features a three-quarter portrait of a Belgian colonial administrator or dignitary in profile facing left, wearing a distinctive dark cylindrical fez-style hat with a light band, rendered in fine black engraving. The portrait is positioned at the left side with an ornate circular frame reserved for a seal or additional portrait at center-right. The design is dominated by red diagonal striping and decorative elements including outlined red stars. Large ornamental diamond-shaped frames containing the numeral '10' are positioned at all four corners in a classical symmetrical layout. Palm tree motifs appear in background elements. The reverse presents a carefully engraved landscape scene depicting an antelope (likely a kudu or similar species native to Central Africa) standing in grassland with trees and savanna vegetation, illustrating the natural resources and fauna of the Congo. The same corner denomination frames appear, along with a large decorative circular frame with red scalloped borders at center-left. The bilingual presentation—French on obverse, Dutch on reverse—was standard for Belgian Congo currency of this period.

FRONT (French side): 'Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi' (Central Bank of Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi) / 'Dix Francs' (Ten Francs) / 'Payables à Vue' (Payable on Demand) / 'Un Directeur' (A Director) / 'Le Gouverneur' (The Governor) / 'Le Contrefacteur est puni de servitude pénale' (Counterfeiting is punishable by penal servitude) / 'Waterlow & Sons Limited. Londres' (Waterlow & Sons Limited. London) / Serial number: A 593424 / Date: 01-04-58 (1 April 1958). BACK (Dutch side): 'Centrale Bank van Belgisch-Congo en Ruanda-Urundi' (Central Bank of Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi) / 'Tien Frank' (Ten Francs) / 'Betaalsbaar op Zicht' (Payable on Demand) / 'Een Directeur' (A Director) / 'De Gouverneur' (The Governor) / 'De Namaker wordt met Strafsdienst Gestraft' (The counterfeiter is punished with penal service) / 'Waterlow & Sons Limited. Londres' (Waterlow & Sons Limited. London).

The note employs fine line intaglio engraving throughout, characteristic of security printing by Waterlow & Sons Limited, the renowned London security printer. The detailed portraiture, intricate decorative borders, fine line patterns, and landscape engraving all demonstrate the precision of traditional intaglio processes. Security features include fine line engraving throughout the design and prominent anti-counterfeiting text warnings in both languages. No evidence of other printing techniques (lithography, letterpress) is visible; the note is a purely engraved production typical of Waterlow's colonial currency work.

This specimen is catalogued as Pick 30b (Printer: Waterlow & Sons, indicated as 'W&S'). The PMG population report indicates two variants exist under Pick 30: P-30a and P-30b, both printed by W&S with no distinguishing characteristics noted in available documentation. The visual analysis reveals signature titles 'Un Directeur' and 'Le Gouverneur' (French side), with corresponding Dutch versions 'Een Directeur' and 'De Gouverneur' (reverse), consistent with the bilingual design standard. The serial number format appears to use a letter prefix (A) followed by numerical sequence (593424). The issue date of 01-04-58 is clearly printed, consistent with the catalog date range of 1955–1959 and the collector notation of 1.04.58.