100 Rwandan Franc #469

Front

Lake Kivu, one of the African Great Lakes located on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The lake sits in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift, and is known for its scenic beauty surrounded by mountains. Traditional Rwandan basket (agaseke) appears at right, a significant cultural artifact symbolizing peace, unity and prosperity in Rwandan tradition. The text reads 'BANKI NASIYONALI Y'U RWANDA' (National Bank of Rwanda) in Kinyarwanda, with the secondary inscription 'ITEGEKO LIHANA UMUNTU WESE UZIGANA IYI NOTI' warning against counterfeiting.

Back

King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1906–1975), third King of Saudi Arabia who reigned from 1964 until his assassination in 1975. However, this attribution is anomalous—the portrait appears on what is clearly a Rwandan banknote (front inscription in Kinyarwanda, issuer is National Bank of Rwanda). The presence of Arabic script and Saudi imagery on a Rwandan note suggests either a mismatched pair of images, an error note, a fantasy/specimen piece, or unusual commemorative issue. The state emblem of Saudi Arabia appears at left with Arabic inscriptions.

History

This note presents a significant cataloguing challenge. The front is unmistakably Rwandan: it bears the National Bank of Rwanda's name in Kinyarwanda, depicts Lake Kivu (a major Rwandan landmark), and shows a traditional Rwandan agaseke basket. The denomination is given as '100 AMAFARANGA' (100 francs in Kinyarwanda). However, the reverse depicts King Faisal of Saudi Arabia with Arabic script and Saudi state emblems—elements that have no documented place in Rwandan currency design. Standard Rwandan 100 franc notes from various series feature Rwandan cultural imagery, wildlife, or infrastructure on both sides. Without being able to match this to any documented Rwandan series or Pick number, and given the incongruous pairing of Rwandan and Saudi imagery, this may represent: (1) a mismatched pair where images from two different notes were incorrectly paired; (2) an error or trial printing; (3) a modern fantasy/souvenir note; or (4) an undocumented commemorative issue. The overall design quality and security features appear consistent with legitimate currency production. Further authentication would require examination of the physical note and cross-reference with National Bank of Rwanda records.