5 Francs Big Five: Lion

Katanga has not functioned as an independent political entity since its reabsorption into the Congo in January 1963, following a secession backed by Belgian mining interests and complicated by the assassination of Patrice Lumumba. These coins are issued under a legal curiosity — a licensing arrangement that allows private minting companies to produce collector pieces attributed to non-sovereign or defunct territorial names. Pobjoy Mint has been a primary producer of such issues.

The aluminium composition keeps costs negligible. These circulate nowhere.