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)
252px 1 franc note (reverse)
ISO 4217 code	CDF
Central bank	Central Bank of the Congo
Website	www.bcc.cd
User(s)	Democratic Republic of the Congo Formerly: Belgian Congo Congo Free State
Inflation	17%
Source	The World Factbook, 2011 est.
Subunit
1/100	centime
Symbol	FC
Banknotes	1, 5, 10, 20, 50 centimes, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000 francs

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.

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.

On July 2, 2012, the Banque Centrale du Congo issued new banknotes in denominations of 1000, 5000, 10,000 and 20,000 francs.

Banknotes of the Congolese franc (01.11.1997 issue)
Image	Value	Main color	Obverse	Reverse	Watermark
[1]	1 centime	Deep olive-green, violet and dark brown	Coffee harvest	Nyiragongo volcano	Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
[2]	5 centimes	Purple	Suku mask	Zande harp	Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
[3]	10 centimes	Red-violet and dark-brown	Pende mask	Pende dancers	Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
[4]	20 centimes	Blue-green and black	Antelope	Upemba National Park	Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
[5]	50 centimes	Dark brown and brown	Okapi	Okapis at Epulu Okapi Reserve	Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
125px 125px	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
125px 125px	5 francs	Purple and black	Rhinoceros, Garamba National Park	Kamwanga falls	Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
125px 125px	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
125px 125px	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
[6]	50 francs	Olive-green	Tshokwe mask "Mwana Pwo"	Fishermen's village along the Congo River	Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
[7]	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
125px 125px	50 francs	Lilac-brown	Tshokwe mask "Mwana Pwo"	Fishermen's village along the Congo River	Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
125px 125px	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
125px 125px	200 francs	Lilac and olive-green	Fieldwork	Drummers	Single Okapi head or multiple Okapi heads repeated vertically
125px 125px	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
[8]	1000 francs	Green	Okapi, Kanioka box	African grey parrot; yellow corn	Okapi and electrotype 1000
[9]	5000 francs	Brown	Zebras; Hemba statuette	Bowl; bundles of maniok; two helmeted guineafowl	Okapi and electrotype 5000
[10]	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
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From Currency.Wiki:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD ZAR

See also

• Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

External links

• Zaire currency from country data.com
• Histoire de la monnaie au Congo. Banque Centrale du Congo