new coins - Katanga
ColinCMR
Posts: 1,482 ✭✭✭
I recently added the 2 circulating coins from Katanga to my collection. They are the 1 and 5 francs of 1961. Here is the gold 5 francs coin (don't own, but may save up for).
Katanga was a province within Leopold II's Belgian Congo. It was important because of it's economic output based on its mineral wealth. In the late 1950s there were many Congolese groups pushing for different forms of independence from Belgium's colonial rule. Chiefly, there was 3 such groups: ABAKO led by Kasavubu, CONAKAT led by Tshombe and the MNC by Lumumba. The only thing the groups could agree on was an independent Congo and they were somewhat divided geographically and ethnic/religiously. The Belgian's gave in swiftly and Independence was set for June 30, 1960. Regionalism was strong and many of the educated evacuated quickly with the colonial government, there was widespread disarry and lack of leadership to instill stability. Within 2 weeks Tshombe announced secession of Katanga, which provided 1/2 the national revenue.The remaining leaders of the Republic of Congo (Lumumba and Kasavubu) appealed to the UN for an intervention.
The US backed the UN forces , the Soviets backed Lumumba with military support and the Belgians still had significant ties through the old businesses set up under Leopold. Lumumba was eventually assassinated, Tshombe arrested and exiled and a new government was formed. Katanga was occupied and reintegrated in 1963 and the UN withdrew in 1964. General Mobutu led a bloodless military coup in 1965, and afterwards beagn strengthening his military power and began to drive social cohesion by emphasizing traditional Bantu values. He campaigned for "authenticity" and dropped such things as Christian names for rivers, cities and other pronouns. Zaire became the country name in 1971.
I took a 2nd year African studies course and it has powered my interest in African coins.
Katanga was a province within Leopold II's Belgian Congo. It was important because of it's economic output based on its mineral wealth. In the late 1950s there were many Congolese groups pushing for different forms of independence from Belgium's colonial rule. Chiefly, there was 3 such groups: ABAKO led by Kasavubu, CONAKAT led by Tshombe and the MNC by Lumumba. The only thing the groups could agree on was an independent Congo and they were somewhat divided geographically and ethnic/religiously. The Belgian's gave in swiftly and Independence was set for June 30, 1960. Regionalism was strong and many of the educated evacuated quickly with the colonial government, there was widespread disarry and lack of leadership to instill stability. Within 2 weeks Tshombe announced secession of Katanga, which provided 1/2 the national revenue.The remaining leaders of the Republic of Congo (Lumumba and Kasavubu) appealed to the UN for an intervention.
The US backed the UN forces , the Soviets backed Lumumba with military support and the Belgians still had significant ties through the old businesses set up under Leopold. Lumumba was eventually assassinated, Tshombe arrested and exiled and a new government was formed. Katanga was occupied and reintegrated in 1963 and the UN withdrew in 1964. General Mobutu led a bloodless military coup in 1965, and afterwards beagn strengthening his military power and began to drive social cohesion by emphasizing traditional Bantu values. He campaigned for "authenticity" and dropped such things as Christian names for rivers, cities and other pronouns. Zaire became the country name in 1971.
I took a 2nd year African studies course and it has powered my interest in African coins.
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