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Belgian Congo 50 Francs 1944, my White Whale is a White Elephant

WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,308 ✭✭✭✭✭
in World & Ancient Coins Forum

I had wanted to have one of these big coins since I was a kid in 1964 when I saw one in R. S. Yeoman's book A Catalog of Modern World Coins.

I finally got one after 60 years.

image
Belgian Congo 50 Francs 1944
Silver, 35 mm, 17.37 gm, 500 fine
Obverse: Elephant facing left / 1944
Reverse: BANQUE DU CONGO BELGE (French) / BANK VAN BELGISCH CONGO (Flemish) / 50 FR
Mint: South African Mint in Pretoria

It was later joined by a similar but smaller coin:

image
Belgian Congo 2 Francs 1943
Brass, 28x25 mm, 5.93 gm, hexagonal
Mint: Philadelphia Mint

The United States was happy to mint these coins for the Belgian authorities.

The Belgian Congo had a large uranium mine which had been closed in 1937 as no one wanted uranium.

The mine was re-opened in 1944 and the newly mined uranium was sent to America.

:)

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Comments

  • bidaskbidask Posts: 14,050 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have never seen a 1944 Belgium 50 francs graded MS 65 ….not sure if one even exists ?!

    I own a MS 64 with good luster … great coin!

    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




  • FilamCoinsFilamCoins Posts: 1,900 ✭✭✭

    I do like that simple, classic design. Must be spectacular in gem BU or proof (if they exist).

  • carabonnaircarabonnair Posts: 1,455 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I like those a lot. The hexagonal one is also famous for the misspelling "BELGISH" instead of "BELGISCH".

    Gawain

    Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
  • amwldcoinamwldcoin Posts: 11,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The coin cutters sure put a dent in the population of these.

  • sannechinosannechino Posts: 10 ✭✭

    bidask - there are no 1944 50 Francs graded in gem yet. (11/10/2025)
    I do have the highest graded at NGC which is an MS64+

  • 7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,816 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice coin even at 64. Quite a few of these have shown at auction in the last 10 or so years, with many in European auctions & would imagine there are some ungraded "gems" out there in 65 - but maybe not much better as it looks as though these were unceremoniously dropped into bags and jostled about...

    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.
  • SametsSamets Posts: 254 ✭✭✭
    edited November 12, 2025 11:28AM

    I'm patiently waiting for my submission to post results since my 1943 2 Franc hexagon is being graded...

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