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5 Francs - Léopold II Trial Strike
| Issuer | Congo Free State (1885-1908) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1896 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Franc (1887-1960) |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central coat of arms of the Congo Free State, consisting of a quartered heraldic shield surmounted by a royal crown, supported on either side by rampant lions amid lush foliate scrollwork. The denomination 5 FRANCS appears as an arc across the upper field, while the motto TRAVAIL ET PROGRÈS is inscribed on a ribbon below the shield, and the date 1896 is prominently displayed at the base of the design. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
The Congo Free State was Leopold II's personal property — not a Belgian colony, but a private holding recognized by the Berlin Conference of 1885. This trial strike in lead dates to a period when Leopold was actively standardizing the monetary infrastructure of his territory, though in practice the Free State economy ran largely on forced labor quotas rather than coin circulation. Lead was the standard material for essais and piéforts of this era, chosen for its soft workability and low cost during die evaluation.
KM#Pn15 represents one of several pattern denominations tested for the Free State that never entered full production.