50 Francs Red

Thomas De La Rue printed this series for Burundi through a period of acute political instability — the country had already seen one coup (1966, which ended the monarchy and brought Micombero to power) and would experience genocidal violence against the Hutu population in 1972, a catastrophe that severely disrupted the economy and state administration. Notes from the tail end of this date range likely saw chaotic circulation conditions and irregular replacement cycles.

De La Rue's contract printing for francophone African central banks in this period was extensive, and the Burundi relationship produced several overlapping series with subtle plate differences that are frequently conflated in general catalogs.