Congo, Democratic Rep. 10-FRANCS (KM1)¶
-
Reverse LION
-
Obverse Denomination
- Composition
- Aluminum
- Country
- Congo, Dem. Rep.
- Approx. Size
- 30mm
- Area
- Africa
- Animal Class
- Mammals
- Species
- Lion
- KM#
- 1
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). Note the "Leopoldville" on the obverse, which is a left-over from the days of King Leopold II of Belgium, the horrid 'proprietor' of the country from 1885 to 1908.
Congo, Dem. Rep.¶
- Area
- Africa
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, not to be confused with the Republic of the Congo a different and much smaller country to the west, was formerly known as the Republic of Zaire and before that the Belgian Congo. If that's not confusing enough, the country was at one time known as the Republic of the Congo. Yes, that's the same name as the other smaller Congo to the west. The Zoo Keeper recommends reading the "Congo, Belgian" entry for some background up to 1960. Belgium granted the country independence as the Republic of the Congo following extremely violent riots in 1959. The name was changed to Zaire in 1971, and changed yet again to DR Congo after a civil war in 1997.
