CONGO,
Very complicated.
Two countries called "Congo." The big one, now "Congo Democratic
Republic," was a very powerful kingdom in the 15th-16th centuries.
The Portuguese had to deal with them as equals, with embassies and all.
The Congo king converted to Catholicism and several thousand churches were
built. The Portuguese then commenced about 250 years of war and predation
that finally destroyed the Congo kingdom. Belgian king Leopold picked
up the pieces and turned the whole country into a slave labor camp.
Estimates are that 10 million people were killed keeping the country quiet.
They did no infrastructure development at all. Since independence
it has been mostly bad luck. Still is. Country is like Brasil
in mid-19th century. Could be a major power some day if it gets control
of itself.
Other Congo
I will write about when I get some coins to sell.
274-430.
CONGO
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, proof set, K-nl set consisting of 4x silver
10 francs K33-36, 2000 chimpanees, 4x silver triangular coins, cased, $140.00
sold
Click picture for enlargement.
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Bob Reis
POB 26303
Raleigh NC 27611USA
phone: (919) 787-0881
(8:30AM-10:30PM EST only please)
fax: (888) 503-8308
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