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5 Francs Essai
| Issuer | Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi |
|---|---|
| Year | 1956 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | BELGISCH CONGO BELGE ESSAI 19 56 D.B. RUANDA-URUNDI |
| Reverse description | A tall oil palm tree rises from the base of the field, its fronds spreading prominently across the upper portion of the coin. The denomination '5 F' is displayed in large numerals flanking the lower trunk of the palm. The bilingual circular legend reads 'BANQUE CENTRALE' along the upper periphery and 'CENTRALE BANK' along the lower periphery, each separated by five-pointed stars. The designer's initials 'D.B.' appear in small incuse letters at the base of the palm trunk. |
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| Additional information |
The Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi was established in 1951 to replace the earlier Comité Monétaire, centralizing currency authority across a vast colonial territory. This essai — a trial strike submitted for official approval — was produced in aluminium at a moment when the Belgian colonial administration was actively reconsidering the metallic composition of low-denomination coinage for tropical circulation, where humidity and handling accelerated corrosion in cupro-nickel alloys. The approved circulating issue followed, but trial pieces like this one were struck in extremely limited numbers, distributed largely to institutional subscribers and ministry officials rather than entering any commercial channel.