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Burundi was part of German East Africa beginning from July 1, 1890 until it was occupied by Belgium in June 1916. It became part of Ruanda-Urundi, which Belgium ruled as a trust territory under the League of Nations on July 20, 1922 and under the United Nations on December 13, 1946. Burundi gained autonomy in January 1961, became an independent kingomd on July 1, 1962, and became a republic in 1966.

The German Administration in German East Africa Rupie (DOAR) issued banknotes in what is now Burundi until 1916. The Rupie was divisible into 64 Pesa until 1906, and divisible into 100 Heller from 1906 until 1917. After the war began, Von Lettow-Vorbeck, military commander of the German colony, continued to issue banknotes using a child’s rubber printing toy set. Since Belgium was under German occupation, the Congo Franc was linked to the British Pound Sterling until June 1919.F

Franc banknotes (CBEF), were used in Burundi, originally issued by the Banque du Congo Belge, as a result of the agreement of October 10, 1927. The Banque du Congo was nationalized on July 30, 1951, lost its right to issue banknotes and became the Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi which became a central bank with the sole right to issue banknotes in the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi beginning on July 1, 1952. The Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi also issued coins for Ruanda-Urundi in 1952.

When Congo left the currency union, the Banque d’Emission du Rwanta et du Burundi was established to issue Francs (BRIF) for Ruanda-Urundi on August 31, 1960 at par to the Belgium Franc. Burundi began issuing the Burundi Franc (BIF) beginning on May 19, 1964. Banknotes were issued by the Banque du Royaume du Burundi from 1964 until 1966, and by the Banque de la Republique du Burundi since 1966.

Here is a 20 Franc notes dated 05-02-2005. The note is red on multicolor underprint. The obverse features a dancer in the center and denomination lower left. The reverse depicts the national coat of arms in the center. Signature titles as LE GOUVERNEUR and LE 2e VICEGOUVERNEUR.

• Krause# Pick-27d

Here is a note dated 05-02-2005 and valued at 10 Francs. The note is blue-green on tan underprint. The obverse features a map of Burundi with the national coat of arms superimposed over it. The reverse depicts text in the center and the denomination in the upper right and lower left.Signature titles as LE GOUVERNEUR and LE 2E VICE GOUVERNEUR.

• Krause# Pick-33e

This is a 10 Francs note dated 01-11-2007 . The note is blue-green on tan underprint. The obverse features a map of Burundi with the national coat of arms superimposed over it. The reverse depicts text in the center and the denomination in the upper right and lower left.Signature titles as LE GOUVERNEUR and LE 2E VICE GOUVERNEUR.

• Krause# Pick-Not Yet Listed

This is a note dated 01-11-2007 and valued at 20 Francs. The note is red on multicolor underprint. The obverse features a dancer in the center and denomination lower left. The reverse depicts the national coat of arms in the center. Signature titles as LE GOUVERNEUR and LE 2e VICEGOUVERNEUR.

• Krause# Pick-Not Yet Listed

This note is dated 01-11-2007 and valued at 50 Francs.The note is dill brown-violet on multicolored underprint. The obverse features a local in a dugout canoe to the left, and the national coat fo arms in the center. The reverse depicts 5 local men with a canoe in the center and a hippopotamus to the right.

• Krause# Pick-Not Yet Listed