Belgian Congo 5 Francs

The Belgian Congo 5 Francs coin, minted from 1918 to 1920, was struck at the Brussels mint using .835 silver fineness, a choice that reflected wartime material shortages even in colonial currency.

Its obverse bore the portrait of King Albert I, the Belgian monarch who had just steered his country through World War I. That design linked a distant African territory to European royalty in a way that was both practical and symbolic. The reverse featured the denomination and the inscription "Congo Belge," emphasizing its administrative role.

Mintage figures vary by year, but exact numbers for 1919, for instance, remain unclear due to incomplete records from that era. These coins circulated widely in the Congo for daily transactions, from trade goods to colonial taxes.

Not every numismatist spots the subtle edge reeding, which might make you think twice about its authenticity.