Zaire 1975 5 zaires
The area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was originally a Belgian colony called the Congo Free State. The territory gained independence in 1960, changed its name to Zaire in 1971, and changed names again to the DRC in 1997 after a civil war and assassination of president-for-life Mobutu Sese Seko. Included in the set were the gold hundred zaires and silver 2½ and five zaires and copper-nickel fifty makuta. A copper-nickel ten makuta was also issued for the masses. This specimen was part of lot 34862 in Heritage sale 3082 (New York, January 2020), which sold for $2,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic 3-Piece gold & silver "Conservation" Proof Set 1975, 1) silver "Mountain Gorilla" 2-1/2 Zaires - Proof; 2) silver "Okapi" 5 Zaires - Proof; 3) gold "Leopard" 100 Zaires - PR69 Ultra Cameo NGC. Mintage: 500 sets. A very low mintage set, with the 100 Zaires having a Proof mintage of only 279 pieces."
Recorded mintage: 5,734 + 6,431 proofs.
Specification: 35 g, 0.925 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 10, KM-PS2 (set).
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Online Auction 3082, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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