The State of Katanga (also known as the Republic of Katanga) was a short-lived breakaway state that existed for three years, from 1960 to 1963. It was dissolved after the United Nations Operation forces in Congo invaded the state in 1963. Katanga reintegrated with Congo as the Katanga Province after the invasion.
Katanga was famous for the Katanga Cross. The Katanga Cross was a copper ingot poured into a sand cast in the form of a cross, hence the name. These crosses were made by the Katanga tribe and circulated in Katanga. The Katanga Cross was so valuable that a single cross could purchase 10 kilograms of flour. The Katanga cross circulated parts of Congo during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
When Katanga declared independence in 1960, it replaced the Belgian franc with the Katangese franc at par. The Katangese franc was divided into 100 centimes. The currency was replaced at par by the Congolese franc after its reintegration.
During its brief time as an independent state, Katanga issued three coins—the bronze 1 franc coin, the bronze 5-franc coin, and a gold 5-franc coin. The coins had the same design—a raised ring with an incuse “KATANGA” with two Katanga crosses and a banana stalk on the obverse side and a Katanga cross with “BANQUE NATIONALE” on the reverse side.
