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| Congo Free State 20 Centimes Coin |
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| 20 Centimes |
Congo Free State 20 Centimes Coin of 1906 King Leopold II
Obverse: Radiant star of progress, denomination (20 Ces) above, date (1906) below.
Reverse: Five crowned double L's (for Leopold II) around center hole.
Legend: LEOP . II R . D . BELGES SOUV . DE L'ETAT INDEP . DU CONGO *
Legend (translated): "Leopold II King of the Belgians, Sovereign of this Central African state"
Reference: KM-11; Engraver: Leopold Wiener
Material: Copper-Nickel; Diameter: 25 mm; Weight: 6.06 gram
Belgian Congo coins
In 1887, holed, copper coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 centimes, together with silver coins worth 50 centimes, and 1, 2, and 5 francs. Coins ceased to be minted of silver in 1896. Holed, cupro-nickel 5-, 10- and 20-centime coins were introduced in 1906, with the remaining copper coins (worth 1 and 2 centimes) minted until 1919. Cupro-nickel 50-centime and 1-franc coins were introduced in 1921 and 1920, respectively.
The coinage of Belgian Congo ceased in 1929, only to be resumed in 1936 and 1937 for the issue of nickel-bronze 5-franc coins. In 1943, hexagonal, brass 2-franc coins were introduced, followed by round, brass coins worth 1, 2 and 5 francs, and silver 50-franc coins, between 1944 and 1947.
In 1952, brass 5-franc coins were issued carrying the name "Ruanda-Urundi" for the first time.
Aluminum coins worth 50 centimes, 1 and 5 francs followed between 1954 and 1957. In 1965, the only franc-denominated coins of the first Democratic Republic of Congo were issued, aluminum coins worth 10 francs.
As with Belgium's own coins, some types were issued in two distinct versions, one with French legends, the other with Dutch legends.