Belgian Congo.

The "Free State of Congo" was proclaimed. But it was not FREE in fact: there were the most loathsome and infamous forms of exploitation of native population. King of Belgium Leopold II, this crowned scoundrel, compelled a subject to him population to obtain ivory for him, grow fruit and produce different colonial commodities.
For the Congolese negroes the norm of production of foods was set. Those, who can't make it - he will killed, or maimed. For overseers a next rule was set: for the killed negro it was necessary to cut off a hand, and then to show it to the commanders, in witness of that bullets were used up "properly".

 

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From 1885 to 1908 king of Belgium Leopold II officially was the owner of the Free State of Congo and cruelly exploited it. Unlike other European countries owning colonies, king Leopold II did not examine Congo as property of Belgium, and preferred to consider Congo as his own property.

 

The whole world despised cruel king Leopold II. The emperor of Austria-Hungary Franz Joseph called his "crowned broker". The great American writer Mark Twain ridiculed him in the stories.
In 1908 mean king Leopold II sells the Free State of Congo to the country - Belgium.
Year after, Leopold dies, despised by all. But, 5 days prior to the death he gets married on a prostitute and, the same, humiliates honour of the Belgian monarchy.
Thus, Leopold II - it one of worst scoundrels in European history.

 

Finding status of colony, Congo finds more soft political mode. From now on, the population of him already is not exterminated, and gets some rights. From a colony not only commercialised but also develops it's infrastructure: cities grow, mining industry is mortgaged, mines are developed on the booty of uranium.
Upon termination of Second World war everywhere appeared a secret societies, pursuing an aim to obtain independence from Belgium.
In 1960, on a background the shipwreck of colonial empires, a colony finds independence, as Republic of Congo.

 

For an appeal an own coin was minted in Belgian Congo. Currency of colony was a franc equal to 100 centimes.

 

10 centimes 1910 year, copper-nickeliferous alloy, mintage - 5000000 copies.

 

20 centimes 1911 year, copper-nickeliferous alloy, mintage - 1250000 pcs.

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50 centimes 1922, copper-nickeliferous alloy, mintage - 6000000 pcs.

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5 francs 1947, brass, mintage - 10000000 pcs.

 

That is all, gentlemen.

 

brillian thread as always from siberian man, i've always loved this coin from the belgian congo

 

Very nice examples! I have seen many of your coins and I always enjoy the show, do you happen to have any coins from one of the Latin countries? If you posted already, you can shoot me a link. :thumb:

Uruguay, Honduras, Brazil, Mexico or even Puerto Rico now a US territory.

 

I have a coins from Latin America too.

 

As always, an interesting post from you Siberian Man. I've always been a history buff, but you're teaching me a lot of things about other nations that I didn't know... and of course the coins are wonderful. Thanks so much.

Bruce

 

Nice pieces!

 

Three elephants:


Belgian Congo 1 Franc 1944


Belgian Congo 2 Francs 1947


Belgian Congo 5 Francs 1947

 

This weekend, I bought a pair of Katanga coins - the only 2 that the short lived country produced (a 1 Franc and a 5 Franc). Looking into the history of Katanga shows that the Belgian's twisted flavor of colonialism persisted well into the 20th century:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Katanga

- - -

Also, the book "Heart of Darkness" tells a very vivid tale of the Belgian Congo under Leopald II.

 

... which was minted in Philadelphia where they could not even spell "Belgisch". Nice design though.

Christian

 

the story of katanga can be applied to more than belgian colonies, every former colonial power has very darj skeletons in their closets, yes even the UK!!

by the way did you know that katanga also produced bank notes?

 

Got it a several days ago. Unusual shape.