Belgian Congo 1896 2 francs
This specimen was lot 42314 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2019), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "BELGIAN CONGO. Congo Free State. 2 Franc, 1896. PCGS MS-63 Gold Shield. Sharply struck with soft satin luster and light attractive tone." This type was struck 1887, 1891, 1894, 1896. It is not common but it is much more affordable than the five francs.
The history of the Congo has long been unhappy. The region was claimed by Leopold III of Belgium in the 1880's as his private domain, ostensibly to end the slave trade which had long afflicted the area. Instead, he instituted a reign of terror as natives were massacred if they failed to yield their assigned quota of rubber and ivory. Finally, after a world outcry, the government of Belgium annexed the area in 1908 and ended the most abusive practices. Still, few wept when the colonizers withdrew in 1960. Violence and exploitation continue to this day, fulfilling white racists' worst stereotypes about "darkest Africa."
Recorded mintage: 100,000.
Specification: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, 27 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-7.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, Matt Orsini and Cris Chatigny, The January 2019 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
Link to:
- 1894 2 francs
- 1896 franc
- 1896 5 francs
- Coins and currency dated 1896
- return to coins of Belgian Congo