5 Franc Congo Free State (1885 - 1908) Silver Leopold II of Belgi ...


Congo (Free State), Leopold II. Large Silver 5 Francs Coin. XF!

Reference: KM-8.1. Denomination: 5 Francs Engraver: Leopold Wiener Condition: Minor deposits, light edge-hits and a few scratches, otherwise XF! Weight: 24.94gm Diameter: 38mm Material: Silver

Obverse: Bearded bust of Leopold II left. Engraver´s signature (“L. WIENER”) below. Legend: LEOP. II R.D. BELG. SOUV. DE L’ETAT INDEP. DU CONGO Reverse: Crowned coat-of-arms of the Free State of Congo, supported by roaring lions which ar standing on baroque base adorned with banner containing motto. Legend: 5 FRANCs / TRAVAIL ET PROGRESS ("Work and Progress") / 1896

The Congo Free State was a government privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians through a dummy non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine. Leopold was the sole shareholder and chairman, who increasingly used it for rubber, copper and other minerals in the upper Lualaba River basin (though it had been set up on the understanding that its purpose was to uplift the local people and develop the area). The state included the entire area of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo and existed from 1885 to 1908. The Congo Free State eventually earned infamy due to the increasingly brutal mistreatment of the local peoples and plunder of natural resources, leading to its abolition and annexation by the government of Belgium in 1908.

Under Leopold II’s administration, the Congo Free State became the site of one of the worst international scandals of the early twentieth century. The report of the British Consul Roger Casement led to the arrest and punishment of white officials who had been responsible for killings during a rubber-collecting expedition in 1903 (including one Belgian national for causing the shooting of at least 122 Congolese people).

The massive loss of life and atrocities inspired literature such as Joseph Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness, and outcries from upholders of the colonial mission like Winston Churchill. The general consensus is that the forced labor system directly and indirectly eliminated 20% of the population of the Congo.

European and U.S. reformers exposed the conditions in the Congo Free State to the public in 1900 through the Congo Reform Association. Also active in exposing the activities of the Congo Free State was the author Arthur Conan Doyle, whose book The Crime of the Congo was widely read in the early 1900s. By 1908, public pressure and diplomatic maneuvers led to the end of Leopold II’s rule and to the annexation of the Congo as a colony of Belgium, known as the Belgian Congo.


type to read more

 

15 coins in the group
2 3

Collections: Add to Basket (740 X 368pixels, file size: ~71K)
Posted by: anonymous  2020-11-12
1887,Zaire-Belgisch Kongo. Leopold II. von Belgien 1875-1909. 5 Francs 1887. K.M. 8.1. Schöne Patina. Winzige Kratzer, vorzüglich - Stempelglanz.

Collections: Add to Basket (740 X 370pixels, file size: ~56K)
Posted by: anonymous  2019-06-13
1887,BELGIEN. Belgisch Kongo. 5 Francs 1887. 24.94 g. KM 8.1. Dav. 10. Selten in dieser Erhaltung / Rare in this condition. Fast FDC / About uncirculated. (~€ 440/USD 505)

Collections: Add to Basket (740 X 370pixels, file size: ~56K)
Posted by: anonymous  2019-06-05
1887,BELGIEN. Belgisch Kongo. 5 Francs 1887. 24.94 g. KM 8.1. Dav. 10. Selten in dieser Erhaltung / Rare in this condition. Fast FDC / About uncirculated. (~€ 440/USD 505)

Collections: Add to Basket (1977 X 964pixels, file size: ~424K)
Posted by: anonymous  2019-02-10
CoinWorldTV 1896, Congo (Free State), Leopold II. Beautiful Large Silver 5 Francs Coin. XF! Mint Year: 1896 Reference: KM-8.1. Denomination: 5 Francs Engraver: Leopold Wiener Condition: Minor deposits, light edge-hits and a few scratches, otherwise XF! Weight: 24.94gm Diameter: 38mm Mate ...

Collections: Add to Basket (1077 X 513pixels, file size: ~130K)
Posted by: anonymous  2015-12-07
CoinWorldTV 1896, Congo (Free State), Leopold II. Large Silver 5 Francs Coin. XF! Mint Year: 1896 Reference: KM-8.1. Condition: A nice XF! Denomination: 5 Francs Engraver: Leopold Wiener Weight: 24.89gm Diameter: 38mm Material: Silver Obverse: Bearded bust of Leopold II left ...

Collections: Add to Basket (900 X 454pixels, file size: ~96K)
Posted by: anonymous  2015-11-27
Zaire-Belgisch Kongo, Leopold II. von Belgien 5 Francs 1887. K.M. 8.1. In US Plastic-Holder PCGS MS65+. Prachtexemplar. Feine Patina. Stempelglanz

Collections: Add to Basket Sold for: $10.0
Info: http://www.ebay.com/itm/301634499582 2015-05-26
FRANCE 1914 25 Centimes AU-Unc

Collections: Add to Basket Sold for: $6.0
Info: http://www.ebay.com/itm/291549677748 2015-09-08
FRANCE 1810B 10 Centimes Napoleon F-VF

Collections: Add to Basket Sold for: $37.0
Info: http://www.ebay.com/itm/201425855288 2015-09-17
FRANCE 1856A 50 Centimes Silver VF
You may be interested in following coins
1 Franc First French Empire (1804-1814) Silver
1 Franc First French Empire (1804-1814) ...
group has   12 coins / 12 prices
2 Franc Congo Free State (1885 - 1908) Silver Leopold II of Belgium(1835 - 1909)
2 Franc Congo Free State (1885 - 1908) S ...
group has   12 coins / 9 prices
5 Centime Belgian Congo (1908 - 1960)
5 Centime Belgian Congo (1908 - 1960)
group has   7 coins / 7 prices
2024-03-26 - New coin is added to 8 Real Second Federal Republic of Mexico (1846 - 1863) Silver


    8 Real Second Federal Republic of Mexico (1846 - 1863) Silver
group has    649 coins / 710 prices



MEXICO 8 REALES 1888 GO RR CAP & RAYS EAGLE SNAKE MEXICANOS WORLD COIN
2024-03-21 - New coin is added to 1 Dollar Canada Silver George VI (1895-1952)


    1 Dollar Canada Silver George VI (1895-1952)
group has    9 coins / 8 prices



CANADA 1 Dollar 1939 - Silver .800 - Royal Visit - XF - 4337
You may be interested in ...
Market
Dynasty tree and coins
Check yourself!

Coin Puzzle
Coins Prices