5 francs 1943
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7 salesAbout This Note
This is a Belgian Congo 5 francs note from the Third Issue of 1943, printed by Waterlow & Sons in London. The note displays the characteristic allegorical female figure with child on the obverse and an elephant in natural landscape on the reverse, rendered in fine blue-grey engraving on cream/tan stock. In Fine condition, it shows moderate circulation wear with visible creasing and foxing typical of a well-used historical banknote, yet retains good detail in the engraved designs—a solid example of colonial-era Congo currency.
Common. The eBay price history provided shows multiple examples trading in the $15–$75 range depending on condition, with Fine specimens regularly selling for $25–$35. The 2016 catalog value for Fine grade is $75, consistent with affordable market pricing. This was a regular issue of a major colonial bank during wartime, likely produced in substantial quantities. The PMG population report shows six cataloged variants for the base Pick number P-13, indicating these notes were produced across multiple printing runs and remain readily available to collectors. No indication of scarcity or recall.
This note was issued by the Banque du Congo Belge during World War II, when Belgian Congo remained under Belgian administration despite the Nazi occupation of Belgium itself. The allegorical female figure holding a child symbolizes prosperity and charity, reflecting the bank's aspirational messaging for the colonial territory. The reverse elephant design emphasizes the African context and natural wealth of the colony, imagery typical of colonial-era banknotes designed to project civilization and resource extraction narratives.
The obverse features an allegorical female figure (representing Prosperity or Charity) seated on the left, nursing or holding a small child beside a beehive—symbols of industry, fertility, and colonial bounty. The composition is framed by ornate decorative borders with shield-shaped elements in the corners, each bearing the denomination '5'. The text 'BANQUE DU CONGO BELGE' and 'CINQ FRANCS' occupy the central area with classical ornamentation. The reverse displays a naturalistic engraving of an African elephant in a landscape with trees and vegetation, centered within a decorative border featuring shell or fan-like motifs. Both sides use bilingual inscriptions (French on obverse, Dutch/Flemish on reverse), reflecting Belgium's linguistic divide and the colonial administration's dual-language policy. The denomination '5' appears in all four corners on both sides.
FRONT (French): 'BANQUE DU CONGO BELGE' (Bank of Belgian Congo), 'CINQ FRANCS' (Five Francs), 'PAYABLES À VUE' (Payable on Demand), 'TROISIÈME ÉMISSION -1943' (Third Issue - 1943), 'LE DIRECTEUR EN AFRIQUE' (The Director in Africa), 'LE DIRECTEUR-ADJOINT EN AFRIQUE' (The Deputy Director in Africa), 'LA LOI PUNIT LE CONTREFACTEUR DES TRAVAUX FORCÉS' (The Law Punishes the Counterfeiter with Forced Labor), '10·01·43' (Date: January 10, 1943), 'Waterlow & Sons Ltd Londres' (Waterlow & Sons Ltd London), Serial number 'K398729'. BACK (Dutch/Flemish): 'BANK VAN BELGISCH CONGO' (Bank of Belgian Congo), 'VIJF FRANK' (Five Francs), 'DERDE UITGIFTE -1943' (Third Issue - 1943), 'BETAALBAAR OP ZICHT' (Payable on Demand), 'DE DIRECTEUR VOOR AFRIKA' (The Director for Africa), 'DE ADJUNCT-DIRECTEUR VOOR AFRIKA' (The Deputy Director for Africa), 'DE NAMAKER WORDT DOOR DE WET MET DWANGARBEID GESTRAFT' (The Counterfeiter is Punished by Law with Forced Labor), 'Waterlow & Sons Limited, Londres' (Waterlow & Sons Limited, London).
Intaglio engraving (line engraving) executed by Waterlow & Sons Ltd, London, one of the world's premier security printers. The fine line engraving is evident throughout both sides in the intricate geometric background patterns, the detailed figural designs, and the ornamental borders. Multiple passes of engraved plates created the layered detail visible in the allegorical figure, child, beehive, elephant, and decorative elements. Serial numbers appear in blue-grey engraving. The color scheme (blue-grey engraving on cream/tan stock with orange-brown underprint noted in lower sections) suggests traditional currency printing with separate color plates.
This note is cataloged as Pick P-13Aa (Third Issue, 1943). The visual inspection confirms the date inscription '10·01·43' and the text 'TROISIÈME ÉMISSION -1943' / 'DERDE UITGIFTE -1943', confirming assignment to the Third Issue. The serial number visible is K398729. The PMG population report identifies six variants (P-13, P-13Aa, P-13Ab, P-13Ac, P-13Ad, P-13s), all printed by W&S (Waterlow & Sons). Variants likely differ in signature combinations, serial number prefixes, or minor design elements. The observed specimen with 'K' prefix serial number and the specific signature placement would help distinguish the exact variant, though P-13Aa is confirmed by catalog assignment.
