Coins from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo or Congo-Kinshasa is a country in Central Africa bordering the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. It remains largely unexplored to this day, but was first mapped by Pierre de Brazza, which allowed for Leopold II of Belgium to lay claim to the region as the Congo Free State during the Scramble for Africa in 1885. Reports of human rights abuses on rubber farms there led the Belgian government to take over the territory in 1908, and it became the Belgian Congo, or Lower Congo to distinguish it from the French Congo, or Middle Congo. Ruanda-Urundi (now Rwanda and Burundi) was attached to it from German East Africa after WWI in 1919; it was a supplier of uranium to the Allies in WWII, and gained it's formal independence from Belgium after the war in 1960. After attempted secession by Katanga, the DRC became an anti-communist right-wing dictatorship during the Cold War, known as Zaïre until 1997. After two civil wars in 1996-2003, the DRC is only a little closer to democracy as of 2018. It currently has a population of about 78.7 million, and uses the Congolese franc. The Belgian Congo was first acquired by King Léopold II in 1885 as the Congo Free State, and coinage on par with the Belgian Franc was issued in 1887-1892. The Congo Free State became notorious for human rights abuses, and was given to the Belgian government in 1908, whereupon coins in the Belgian Congolese Franc were issued starting in 1911. Ruanda-Urundi was attached to it following its acquisition from Germany in 1919. During the 2nd World War, the Belgian Free Forces were based in the Belgian Congo, and brass and silver coinage was minted. The colony became independent as the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1960. The Congo Free State is the former name of present-day Republic of Congo, when it was awarded to the Belgian King Leopold II during the Berlin Conference in 1885. He made a lot of money exploiting the locals for his rubber enterprises. Due to bad conditions and epidemics many millions of Congolese died, but no accurate records exist. International pressure led to the annexation of Congo Free State by the Belgian state in 1908, which marked the start of Belgian Congo.
Wikidata: Q974
See also: Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi, Katanga
Franc (1887-1967)
100 Centimes = 1 Franc
5 Centimes - Albert I1910-1928
Copper-nickel • 2.39 g • ⌀ 19 mm
KM# 17, LA# BCM-4, LA# BCM-5, N# 7014
10 Centimes - Albert I1910-1928
Copper-nickel • 4.0 g • ⌀ 22 mm
KM# 18, LA# BCM-7, LA# BCM-8, N# 3167
50 Centimes - Albert I (French text)1921-1929
Copper-nickel • 6.46 g • ⌀ 24 mm
KM# 22, LA# BCM-11, N# 6708
50 Centimes - Albert I (Dutch text)1921-1929
Copper-nickel • 6.5 g • ⌀ 24 mm
KM# 23, LA# BCM-12, N# 7010
1 Franc - Albert I (Dutch text)1920-1929
Copper-nickel • 10 g • ⌀ 28.9 mm
KM# 21, LA# BCM-14, N# 7608
1 Franc - Albert I (French text)1920-1930
Copper-nickel • 10 g • ⌀ 28.8 mm
KM# 20, LA# BCM-13, N# 7551
2 Francs - Léopold III1943
Brass (65% Copper, 35% Zinc) • 6.0 g • ⌀ 29.1 mm
KM# 25, LA# BCM-16, N# 7011
10 Francs (5th Anniversary of independence)
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 3.226 g • ⌀ 19 mm
KM# 2, Schön# 35, N# 138634
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 3.226 g • ⌀ 19 mm
KM# 2, Schön# 35, N# 138634
20 Francs (5th Anniversary of independence)
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 6.452 g • ⌀ 20 mm
KM# 3, Schön# 36, N# 138637
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 6.452 g • ⌀ 20 mm
KM# 3, Schön# 36, N# 138637
25 Francs (5th Anniversary of independence)
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 8.064 g • ⌀ 22 mm
KM# 4, Schön# 37, N# 138641
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 8.064 g • ⌀ 22 mm
KM# 4, Schön# 37, N# 138641
50 Francs (5th Anniversary of independence)
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 16.129 g • ⌀ 27 mm
KM# 5, Schön# 38, N# 138642
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 16.129 g • ⌀ 27 mm
KM# 5, Schön# 38, N# 138642
100 Francs (5th Anniversary of independence)
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 32.258 g • ⌀ 35 mm
KM# 6, Schön# 39, N# 138643
1965
Non-circulating coin: 5th Anniversary of independence
Gold (.900) • 32.258 g • ⌀ 35 mm
KM# 6, Schön# 39, N# 138643
100 Francs (5th Anniversary of Independence; Pattern)
1965
Pattern: 5th Anniversary of Independence
Gold (.900)
KM# Pn3, N# 308752
1965
Pattern: 5th Anniversary of Independence
Gold (.900)
KM# Pn3, N# 308752
Zaire (1967-1993)
100 Sengi = 1 Likuta • 100 Makuta = 1 Zaïre
10 Sengis (5 Years of J.D. Mobutu's Presidency; Gold Proof Issue)
1970
Non-circulating coin: 5th Year of Mobutu Presidency
Gold (.900) • 3.20 g • ⌀ 19.8 mm
KM# 10, Schön# 43, N# 195287
1970
Non-circulating coin: 5th Year of Mobutu Presidency
Gold (.900) • 3.20 g • ⌀ 19.8 mm
KM# 10, Schön# 43, N# 195287
The Numista referee for coins of this issuer is andrewdotcoza.
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