World coins chat: Katanga

Katanga is a province of the DR Congo and was a breakaway state between 1960 and 1963, during which it issued its own Franc with two circulating coins of 1 and 5 Francs.



After independence in 1960 the Congo Crisis started with the country split in 3 power bases. Leftist Lumumba wished to reunite the country but the West feared his allegiance to the USSR. Belgian vested interest wished to split the resource-rich Katanga from Congo to retain control of the copper, gold and cobalt deposits found there. With a western-backed military coup by Mobutu in 1961, Lumumba was brought to Katanga and executed by Katangan troops which were under Belgian command. It took decades for the Belgian government to admit involvement in Lumumba's death.

For 3 years the UN wished to mediate the conflict between Mobutu and Katangan leader Tshombe. UN General Secretary Dag Hammarskjöld died in an aeoplane crash in 1961 allegedly shot down by Katangan rebels. In 1963 the UN and Mobutu succeeded in reuniting Congo.

The Katangan Franc was at par with the Belgian Franc at 50F/$. By 1963 the value had dropped to 195F/$ and was replaced by the Congolese Franc at par.

Katangan coins are not that expensive. For 5 to 7 EUR you should be able to pick up both. Biafran coins are a lot more expensive.

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/katanga-1.html

Here is my Katanga cross  

Province of Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo: Anonymous (ca. 18-19th century) AE Handa

which one? 1kg?

Not expensive! The 5 francs  golden one it's outreagous expensive  

Citeer: kolikko99which one? 1kg?

Its about 700g, hence it is not the 1kg one, but awfully close  

Citeer: DutchgalegoNot expensive! The 5 francs  golden one it's outreagous expensive  

Correct, but it is mostly for posterity.  Primitive coinage is a class of its own and not that many people collect them.  

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces46820.html
I find these tiny ones very cute  

http://atsnotes.com/catalog/banknotes/katanga.html
katanga also had banknotes

Citeer: jokinen(...)
With a western-backed military coup by Mobutu in 1961, Lumumba was brought to Katanga and executed by Katangan troops which were under Belgian command. It took decades for the Belgian government to admit involvement in Lumumba's death.

That was because the Belgians involved in Katanga were mercenaries under the command of Jean Schramme, a former major. They were not paid by the Belgian government. Yet it is indeed improbable that Belgian diplomats have been unaware of what really was going on.

The Belgian government was later talked into taking the blame as a cover-up operation. Who might have that kind of power over the government of an ally?

For the record:  In1986 Jean Schramme was sentenced for murder in Belgium, but was living in Brazil at that time. He was never extradited and died a few years later.

I have the gold coin in my collection. I bought it many years ago when gold was a lot cheaper than today. I have the other two coins as well

Citeer: COINMAN1I have the gold coin in my collection. I bought it many years ago when gold was a lot cheaper than today. I have the other two coins as well

Lucky you!
 I only have the 1 franc. It was the first coin in my collection.

Citeer: kolikko99https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces46820.html
I find these tiny ones very cute  

Cute and collectable.  By the way the big ones are also very interesting.

My frend is going to Congo soon and I asked if he could bring me a few katanga coins from there if he finds any, I hope he will find some.

I bought this morning at a coin fair this Katanga 1 franc 1961 for 2 €:



I only bought one because I already had the coin. The seller had several more of these coins in about the same condition and for the same price. If someone is interested I can buy them next month and make it part of a swap.

My Katanga cross is 465g