50 Francs Running Lion

The "Running Lion" belongs to a bullion series launched by the Banque Centrale du Congo in the early 2020s, positioned explicitly to compete with established African bullion programs like the South African Krugerrand and the Somali Elephant. The DRC holds roughly 70% of the world's cobalt reserves and substantial gold deposits, yet has historically exported raw material rather than finished monetary products — this series is a direct attempt to capture refinery and minting value domestically.

The half-troy-ounce format is a deliberate market choice, targeting buyers priced out of one-ounce premiums.