Belgian Congo 10 Francs

The Belgian Congo 10 Francs coin was struck in aluminum bronze to address wartime metal shortages, making it a practical choice amid global chaos in the 1940s.

This composition, a mix of copper, aluminum, and other alloys, gave the coin durability for circulation in a tropical environment, where humidity could wreck lesser metals. Designs varied slightly over the years, with the obverse often bearing a portrait of the Belgian king—Baudouin for later issues—and the reverse depicting symbols like an elephant or native flora. Mintage figures are spotty; records from the Brussels mint weren't always kept meticulously during colonial administration.

Not every specimen survived intact; corrosion from Congo's climate turned many into relics faster than expected. If you handle one, note the edge lettering, a subtle anti-counterfeiting measure that collectors sometimes overlook.

Proving that necessity drives innovation, even in coinage.