100 Francs, Bank of the Belgian Congo, Belgian Congo, 1912–1929 (Pick 11)

This 100 Francs note was issued in Belgian Congo by the Bank of the Belgian Congo, with dates recorded from 1912–1929. It belongs to the Franc (1908-1960) currency system. Issuing authority and period recorded in the catalogue: Albert I (1909-1934). It measures 160 × 102 mm and is printed on paper. The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money lists the type as Pick 11.

Obverse: Woman standing at left holding portrait of Ceres. Boy on a rock with produce and elephant tusks below. Kneeling woman at right Printing, predominantly blue and yellow. Texts in French. Security background composed of repeating patterns. Double frame with the value “100” in the upper corners. In the center, the issuing institute “BANQUE DU CONGO BELGE” and below the value “CENT FRANCS” and the words “PAYABLE ON SIGHT A”. Five possible emission locations in red: STANLEYVILLE, LÉOPOLDVILLE, MATADI, KINSHASA and ELIZABETHVILLE. On the left, two young boys, one of whom is sitting on a rock. The second, standing, holds a medallion containing the profile of a European woman wearing a diadem. In the foreground, two elephant tusks and exotic fruits are spread on the ground. On the right, a woman, an allegory of Europe, is kneeling and holding a large fabric in her hands. Behind her, some books. The ticket number is printed four times in black. Signatures are printed in blue. The article of the penal code is printed in the center on two lines in a cartridge. Scripts: Latin and Latin (cursive). Its lettering reads “BANQUE DU CONGO BELGE / CENT FRANCS / PAYABLE A VUE / LA LOI PUNIT LE CONTREFACTEUR / DES TRAVAUX FORCES”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Bank of Belgian Congo One Hundred Francs Payable at sight The Law punishes the counterfeiter with forced labor.”.

Reverse: On the left, the watermark. In the center, a coastal view with a small commercial port and a town in the distance. In the foreground, a kneeling woman and a child. On the right, a fisherman standing with his paddle and fishing net on his shoulder. Texts in Dutch. Its lettering reads “BANK VAN BELGISCH CONGO / HINDERD FRANK / BETAALBAAR OP ZICHT TE”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Bank of Belgian Congo One Hundred Francs Payable at sight at”.

The note was printed by National Bank of Belgium Printing Works, Brussels, Belgium (1851-2020). Watermark: Elephant's head. Demonetized: Yes. Identification note: match the value, issuing bank, printed date and Pick number together; dates and signature combinations distinguish sub-varieties, which are not separated in this entry. Details follow the Numista catalogue entry and the Standard Catalog reference it cites; they have not been checked against a central-bank archive.