During the Second World War, Belgium was occupied by the Nazis. Therefore the coins of the Belgian Congo were minted in Pretoria, South Africa, and also at the Philadelphia Mint, USA.
A 50 centimes coin was never issued for the Belgian Congo in the 1940s.
Below, however, you see a brass pattern 50 centimes coin dated 1946.
It carries the famous elephant design by Armand Bonnetain.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
Below you see the 1 franc coin of the issued elephant series.
It was issued from 1944 to 1949.
Below you see the brass pattern 1 franc coin of 1944.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
Below you see another brass pattern 1 franc coin of 1944 with a different obverse.
The obverse is the side that shows the country name.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
Below you see a steel pattern 1 franc coin of 1944.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
Below you see a steel pattern 1 franc coin of 1944 with a different obverse.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=30793.0;attach=72160;image)
Above you see the issued 2 francs coin of 1943.
It is famous for its spelling mistake: BELGISH instead of BELGISCH.
Below you see a brass pattern 2 francs coin of 1944 with the correct spelling of BELGISCH.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
Below you see a steel pattern 2 francs coin of 1944 with the correct spelling of BELGISCH.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
In addition to brass and steel patterns, a copper 1 franc pattern was produced, dated 1944.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
The official 5 francs coin of the elephant series was issued in 1947 only.
Below you see a brass pattern 5 francs coin dated 1946.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=88840;image)
The only other issued coin in the elephant series was the silver 50 francs coin.
It was issued in 1944 only.
To my knowledge, no pattern variations were made of this coin.
Thanks, <k>. Great to see the pattern series. The word patt(ern) is English, not French or Dutch. Another little revelation is that all the patterns are dated 1944 or later, while the 2 francs with the misspelling are dated 1943. Yet the pattern 2 franken fit in with the others you show. I now wonder if the date on the circulation 2 francs was an "error" also.
Peter
See also: Belgium's African possessions (http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,30793.0.html).
Quote from: <k> on July 18, 2021, 09:18:41 PM
During the Second World War, Belgium was occupied by the Nazis. Therefore the coins of the Belgian Congo were minted in Pretoria, South Africa, and also at the Philadelphia Mint, USA.
A 50 centimes coin was never issued for the Belgian Congo in the 1940s.
Below, however, you see a brass pattern 50 centimes coin dated 1946.
It carries the famous elephant design by Armand Bonnetain.
Image copyright of Spink (https://www.spink.com).
Yes, I own this coin. It is the only example that I have ever seen so far after 25 years of searching.
It is now graded NGC MS63