The Free State of Congo is a territory in Africa that was privately owned by Leopold II, part-time king of Belgium, from 1885 to 1908. Possessions of territories are marked in history by harsh genocide of the local population. Suffice it to note that in 40 years (from 1880 to 1920) the population of the Congo has halved.
The first issue of coins took place in 1887. The mint consisted of 4 copper and 4 silver coins. Legend on coins: "LEOP.II R. D. BELGES SOUV. DE L'ETAT INDEP. DU CONGO," which means "Leopold II, king of the sovereign Belgians. Congo Free State." The design was developed by the medalist Leopold Wiener (Leopold Wiener, 1823-1891).
KM # 1, 1 centime 1888, copper, years 1887-1888
KM # 2, 2 centimes 1887, copper, years 1887-1888
KM # 3, 5 centimes 1888, copper, years 1887-1894
KM # 4, 10 centimes 1888, copper, years 1887-1894
In 1906, denominations of 5 and 10 centimes, as well as a new denomination of 20 centimes, were issued on copper-nickel billets. The legend remained unchanged.
In 1908, Leopold II sold the Congo Free State to the Kingdom of Belgium. The state became known as the Belgian Congo. Issued in 1909, coins in denominations of 5, 10, 20 centimes have another legend - BELGISCH-CONGO/CONGO BELGE - the name of the state in French and Flemish. This was the last issue of coins of King Leopold II.
KM # 12, 5 centimes 1909, copper-nickel alloy, 1.8 million equivalent, only year of manufacture
The next issue of coins with the monogram of King Albert took place in 1910. Copper coins of 1 and 2 centimes, copper-nickel coins of 5, 10 and 20 centimes were minted.
KM # 15, 1 centime 1919, copper, 500 thousand equivalent, years of manufacture 1910,1919
KM # 16, 2 centimes 1910, copper, 1.5 million ex. years 1910,1919
KM # 17, 5 centimes 1919, copper-nickel alloy, 6.9 million equivalent, production years 1910-1928
KM # 18, 10 centimes 1911, copper-nickel alloy, 5 million equivalent, production years 1910-1928
KM # 19, 20 centimes 1911, copper-nickel alloy, 6 million equivalent, years of manufacture 1910,1911
Traditional for the Kingdom of Belgium bilingual issues of coins in denominations of 50 centimes and 1 franc were issued 10 years later. This time, the famous Belgian sculptor and medalist Jules Lage (Jul. Lagae, 1862-1931).
KM # 23, 50 centimes 1928, copper-nickel alloy, 7.5 million equivalent, production years 1921-1929, legend in French "DES BELGES"
KM # 21, 1 franc 1926, copper-nickel alloy, 17 million equivalent, production years 1920-1929, legend in French "DES BELGES"
KM # 22, 50 centimes 1925, copper-nickel alloy, 16.1 million copies, production years 1921-1929, legend in Flemish "DER BELGEN"
KM # 20, 1 franc 1923, copper-nickel alloy, 5 million equivalent, production years 1920-1930, legend in Flemish "DER BELGEN"
In 1936-1937, the metropolis issued for circulation in the Belgian Congo a bilingual coin of regular minted in denominations of 5 francs. The design of the coin differs from the coins of the first issue. The profile of Leopold III on the coin is the same as on 5 francs of Belgium of the same period performed by engraver Marcel Roux (Marcel Rau, 1886-1966).
KM # 24, 5 francs 1936, nickel-bronze alloy, 2.6 million ex. years 1936-1937
During World War II, the Belgian government, led by Prime Minister Pierlot, immigrated to London, from where it managed the anti-fascist Underground in its homeland and the Belgian Congo colony. The participation of the Belgian Congo in World War II was not limited to the supply of gold and uranium to the Allies. The armed forces of the Congo, together with the British, took part in a successful military campaign in Italian East Africa.
The military issue in 1943 of a brass hexagonal coin of 2 francs was supposed to make it clear to the Congolese that the government continues to lead the colony, even while in exile. The coin was issued by the Philadelphia Mint according to the plot of the medalist Armand Bonnetain (Armand Bonnetain, 1883-1973). The name of the state in Flemish was mistaken by the carvers of Pretoria - "Belgish" instead of "Belgisch."
KM # 25, 2 francs 1943, brass, 25 million ecz, single year of manufacture
The plot "with an elephant" was repeated in the post-war issue of coins for the Belgian Congo. The line of coins issued in 1944-1947 consisted of 4 denominations: 1, 2, 5 and 50 francs. The senior denomination, for the first time since 1896, was issued on silver billets. The lower denominations were issued on brass blanks.
KM # 26, 1 franc 1944, brass, 25M equivalent, years 1944-1949
KM # 28, 2 francs 1946, brass, 12 million ex. years 1946-1947