Congo, Democratic Rep. 10-FRANCS (KM1)

If there was ever a more expressive Lion to appear on a coin, the Zoo Keeper has yet to see it. This beautiful piece was issued one year only in 1965, five years after the country achieved independence as the Republic of the Congo (which is now the name of a different smaller country to the west).

Although there were an estimated 100 million of these coins minted, the Krause catalogue notes that "most [were] recalled and melted." Even if most means "99%" (unlikely), that would leave a million left for collectors to enjoy.

"Leopoldville" on the obverse is a left-over from the days of King Leopold II of Belgium, the horrid 'proprietor' of the country from 1885 to 1908.