20 francs 1959
Market Prices
41 salesAbout This Note
This is a splendid example of the Belgian Congo 20 Francs from 1959, one of the final issues by the Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi before independence. The note displays exceptional condition with crisp, sharp printing and vivid color saturation in greens and teals, showing minimal wear or foxing. The bilingual design (French obverse, Dutch reverse) and fine line engraving work by Thomas de la Rue are beautifully preserved, making this an attractive specimen for collectors of African colonial currency.
Common. The eBay price history data provided shows consistent market prices ranging from approximately $10–$40 for typical circulated and uncirculated examples, with graded specimens (PMG 65–67) commanding $130–$250+. The absence of significant scarcity premiums, the straightforward availability in the secondary market over many years (data spanning 2010–2023), and the substantial print run of this regular issue all indicate this is a common note. While the 1959 date gives it slight collector appeal, the note itself presents no rarity in standard grades.
This 1959 banknote represents the twilight of Belgian colonial rule in Central Africa, issued just months before the Congo's independence in June 1960. The depicted landscape scenes—featuring the Alexander Delcommune Dam reservoir on the Lualaba River in Katanga and the region's natural waterfalls—reflect the colonial administration's infrastructure projects and the territory's resource wealth. The bilingual French-Dutch inscriptions underscore Belgium's dual-language governance structure and the imminent transition to African sovereignty, as this institution ceased operations following decolonization.
The obverse features a portrait of a young man of African descent in three-quarter profile facing right, positioned at the left margin with a gentle expression. The central landscape depicts the Alexandre Delcommune Dam and its reservoir on the Lualaba River in Katanga Province, with colonial-era administrative or industrial buildings visible on the shoreline and rocky formations along the water's edge. The reverse showcases a different portrait of a man in profile facing left on the right side, while the center depicts a naturalistic landscape with dramatic rocky cliff formations, a waterfall or significant water feature, dense forest vegetation, and a solitary human figure near the water—likely representing the region's natural waterfalls. Both sides feature identical ornate borders with decorative scrollwork, stars in the corners, and a central medallion with grid patterns characteristic of Thomas de la Rue's security engraving. The bilingual layout (French on front, Dutch on reverse) reflects the dual administration of Belgian Congo.
FRONT (French): Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi (Central Bank of Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi) / Vingt Francs (Twenty Francs) / Payables à vue (Payable on Demand) / Un Directeur (A Director) / Le Gouverneur (The Governor) / Le Contrefacteur est puni de servitude pénale (Counterfeiters will be punished with penal servitude) / Serial number AP232076 / Date: 01/06/59 (June 1, 1959) / Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited, London. BACK (Dutch): Centrale Bank van Belgisch-Congo en Ruanda-Urundi (Central Bank of Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi) / Twintig Frank (Twenty Francs) / Betaalbaar op zicht (Payable on Sight/Demand) / Een Directeur (A Director) / De Gouverneur (The Governor) / De naammaker wordt met strafdienst gestraft (Counterfeiter will be punished with penal service) / Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited, London.
Intaglio engraving (fine line engraving) executed by Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited, London, as printed by TDLR (the de la Rue imprint visible on the note). The printing demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship with intricate guilloche patterns, fine line work throughout the borders and background areas, and sharp denomination numerals. The design employs multi-color printing with carefully controlled color registration, combining green/teal primary tones with mauve/pink accents on the reverse, typical of high-security currency production of the era.
Pick 31 (P-31) is the standard variety with printer TDLR (Thomas de la Rue). PMG records indicate a P-31s variant also exists (likely a specimen or special issue variant), but the present note is the regular circulation issue. The observed specimen is dated 01/06/59 with serial number AP232076, consistent with the June 1, 1959 official issue date. No overprints, signature variants, or notable printing anomalies are evident in the visual analysis.
