20 francs 1960

Common. While historically significant as currency of a short-lived separatist state, this note appears regularly in the numismatic market with consistent availability. eBay sales data spanning from 2009 to 2025 demonstrates steady, active trading with multiple examples in various grades selling regularly. VF examples typically realize $75–$127, while UNC examples command $219–$250, indicating standard market demand consistent with common collectible banknotes. The absence of extreme rarity markers and the regular circulation of this denomination in dealer inventories confirm its common status.

Issued on November 21, 1960, by the Banque Nationale du Katanga, this note represents a pivotal moment in post-colonial African history. Katanga, under the leadership of Moise Tshombe (whose portrait appears on the obverse), declared independence from the Democratic Republic of Congo in July 1960, and this currency was issued to establish the separatist state's financial legitimacy. The architectural depiction of the National Assembly building on the reverse symbolizes the administrative institutions of this short-lived autonomous region, which was reintegrated into the Congo in 1963.

The obverse features Moise Tshombe, the President of the State of Katanga, depicted in formal business attire (dark suit and tie) positioned at right within an ornate oval frame with radiating lines. The reverse depicts the Bâtiment du 30 Juin (National Assembly building) in Elisabethville (modern-day Lubumbashi), shown as an interior architectural structure with classical columns, walls, and a domed or arched ceiling rendered in burgundy tones. Both sides employ a consistent aesthetic with turquoise/teal primary color, cream accents, and burgundy secondary elements. Ornamental flourishes and repeating geometric border patterns frame the designs on both sides. Denomination boxes containing '20' are positioned symmetrically on both the obverse and reverse. The note's text is presented in French, reflecting Katanga's colonial heritage.

Front side: 'BANQUE NATIONALE DU KATANGA' (National Bank of Katanga), '20' and 'vingt francs' (twenty francs), 'ELISABETHVILLE' (place of issue), '21.11.60' (issue date of November 21, 1960), 'PAYABLES A VUE' (payable on demand), serial number 'CB 0681139'. Back side: 'BANQUE NATIONALE DU KATANGA' (National Bank of Katanga), '20' and 'vingt francs' (twenty francs), 'EN DIRECTEUR' (by the director/authorized signature), 'PAYABLES A VUE' (payable on demand).

Intaglio (engraved) printing, evidenced by the fine crosshatch and guilloché patterns visible throughout the note's background and security features. The precision of the radiating lines in the portrait and building frames, combined with the repeating geometric border patterns, are characteristic of high-quality security printing employed by European security printers during the 1960s colonial and post-colonial period. The note demonstrates professional bank note production standards typical of currencies issued during this era.

This note is cataloged as Pick-6a. The PMG population report indicates three known variants for this base Pick number: P-6As, P-6a, and P-6s. The observed specimen represents the P-6a variety. The serial number CB 0681139 visible on this note may help distinguish it among multiple printings. No overprints, date variations, or signature variants are apparent in this example. The consistent printing quality and standard format suggest this represents the primary circulation variety of the 20 Francs denomination issued by the Banque Nationale du Katanga.