Belgian Congo 1925 franc

from the Stack's Bowers 2018 Collector's Choice sale, lot 70209

This specimen was lot 70209 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, May 2018), where it sold for $95. The catalog description^[1] noted, "BELGIAN CONGO. Franc, 1925. NGC MS-63. In 1908, after an international outcry, king Leopold II was forced to surrender his personal domain in the Congo to the Belgian government, which curbed the worst abuses of forced labor and slavery. This issue of 1920-30 was struck with French (shown here) and Flemish legends (KM 21) to appease political sentiment in Belgium though few in the Congo can have heard of Flanders or cared what language the natives spoke. Toned with underlying soft satin luster."

Recorded mintage: 10,470,000 (French) + 9,530,000 (Dutch), both common dates.

Specification: 10 g, copper-nickel, 28.8 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-20.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The May 2018 Collector's Choice Sale, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.

Link to:

• 1924 frank, Dutch legends
• 1929 franc, French legends
• 1929 frank, Dutch legends
• 1936 5 francs
• Coins and currency dated 1925
• return to coins of Belgian Congo