Belgian Congo 1947 2 francs
This specimen is from a two year type struck for the Belgian Congo. The bold design of a striding African elephant has always made this coin popular among collectors who otherwise neglect African issues. The design also appears on brass one and five franc pieces of 1944-49.
The history of the Congo is itself much less happy. 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: 12,000,000.
Specification: brass.
Catalog reference: KM 28.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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