Leopoldville 1943 - Two franc elephant

 

In 1942, with the economy picking up and more Congolese participating in the cash economy, the Belgian Government in Exile in London placed an order with the Philadelphia Mint for 25 million 2 franc coins (worth about a nickel). A hexagonal brass piece with a striding elephant on one side and Banque du Congo Belge in French and Flemish on the obverse, it was the first coin that did not feature an image of the monarch, given the sensitivities around Leopold III's surrender in June 1940. The coins were likely cast from expended brass artillery shell casings. The Flemish text lacked a “c” in Belgisch, but with 25 million pieces produced, the error was too expensive to correct and the coins were shipped to Congo and placed in circulation. In 1946, a smaller, round 2 franc coin was produced by the Pretoria mint and the hexagonal one taken out of circulation (coins.www.colectors-society.com, Sep. 22, 2021).