Belgian Congo 1952 5 francs

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen is from a one year type struck for the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi.

The history of the Congo is 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: 10,000,000.

Specification: 7.3 g, brass.

Catalog reference: KM 1 (listed under Rwanda).

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

Link to:

• 1947 2 francs
• 1947 5 francs
• 1949 franc
• South Africa 1956 3 pence
• 1957 franc
• Coins and currency dated 1952
• return to coins of the Belgian Congo