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Zaire Coins

The monetary history of Zaire is a fascinating reflection of the political and economic changes the country has undergone. From its independence in 1960 to the present day, Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, has seen several transformations in its monetary system, each marking a distinct stage in its national development.

The zaïre as the national currency

In 1967, Zaire adopted the zaïre as its official currency, replacing the Congolese franc. This new currency was introduced as part of President Mobutu Sese Seko's economic reforms. The zaïre was divided into 100 makuta and both coins and banknotes were issued. However, hyperinflation in the 1990s led to the issuance of increasingly higher denomination bills, with 5 million zaïre bills being printed in 1992.

Transition to the Congolese franc

After the fall of the Mobutu regime in 1997, the country reverted to the Congolese franc as its official currency. This change marked the end of the zaïre era and the beginning of a new era in the country's numismatics. New series of coins and banknotes were introduced, reflecting the new national identity. An important milestone in Congolese numismatics was the issuance in 2002 of a commemorative series of silver coins to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country's independence, demonstrating the use of numismatics as a tool for cultural and political expression.

If you are a passionate collector, this catalog offers the possibility to create your own personal collection. You can add your coins and generate a free PDF catalog from a complete database and our management tools. In addition, once registered, you will have the opportunity to exchange coins with other collectors around the world easily and free of charge.

📢 Zaire is a country that does not exist today. It is now part of the Congo-Republic coins.

The most valuable coins

The most valuable Zaire coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:

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The valuation of these coins has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.

Coin catalogs related to Zaire

You can consult other coins related to Zaire, these catalogs are usually country history: former countries, unifications, independence provinces, colonies, etc.

Swapping available Note the coins labelled with this message, it means that there are collectors who have that coin and are willing to make a swap. Visit their collection from their personal page.

Coin Catalog

5 zaires (Hotel Intercontinental Kinshasa)

FO#10866 KM#1
Year: 1971
Weight: 27,84 g
Composition: Silver (0,925)
Diameter: 34,50 mm
Edge:

10 zaires (Hotel Intercontinental Kinshasa)

FO#14925 KM#2
Year: 1971
Weight: 9,96 g
Composition: Gold (0,900)
Diameter: 21,00 mm
Edge:

10 zaires (Hotel Intercontinental Kinshasa)

FO#14926 KM#3
Year: 1971
Weight: 6,04 g
Composition: Platinum (0,999)
Diameter: 21,00 mm
Edge:

20 zaires (Hotel Intercontinental Kinshasa)

FO#14927 KM#4
Year: 1971
Weight: 20,90 g
Composition: Gold (0,900)
Diameter:
Edge:

20 zaires (Hotel Intercontinental Kinshasa)

FO#14928 KM#5
Year: 1971
Weight: 3,89 g
Composition: Platinum (0,999)
Diameter: 14,30 mm
Edge:

50 zaires (Hotel Intercontinental Kinshasa)

FO#14929 KM#6
Year: 1971
Weight: 46,96 g
Composition: Gold (0,900)
Diameter: 33,80 mm
Edge:

10 makuta

FO#10867 KM#7
Price: 1,02€
Year: 1973-1978
Weight: 8,45 g
Composition: Copper-nickel
Diameter: 27,50 mm
Edge: Ribbed

20 makuta

FO#10868 KM#8
Price: 1,02€
Year: 1973-1976
Weight: 13,10 g
Composition: Copper-nickel
Diameter: 31,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

2 1/2 zaires (Conservation)

FO#10869 KM#9
Year: 1975
Weight: 28,28 g
Composition: Silver (0,925)
Diameter: 28,61 mm
Edge: Ribbed

5 zaires (Conservation)

FO#10870 KM#10
Year: 1975
Weight: 35,00 g
Composition: Silver (0,925)
Diameter: 42,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

100 zaires (Conservation)

FO#10871 KM#11
Year: 1975
Weight: 33,34 g
Composition: Gold (0,900)
Diameter:
Edge: Ribbed

5 makuta

FO#10872 KM#12
Price: 1,06€
Year: 1977
Weight: 6,50 g
Composition: Copper-nickel
Diameter: 25,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

1 zaire

FO#2144 KM#13
Price: 1,22€
Year: 1987
Weight: 5,00 g
Composition: Brass
Diameter: 21,00 mm
Edge: Smooth

5 zaires

FO#2145 KM#14
Price: 0,98€ - 1,31€
Year: 1987
Weight: 6,90 g
Composition: Brass
Diameter: 24,00 mm
Edge: Smooth

10 zaires

FO#2146 KM#19
Price: 0,58€ - 2,46€
Year: 1988
Weight: 8,00 g
Composition: Brass
Diameter: 26,00 mm
Edge: Smooth

500 zaires (Leopard)

FO#10874 KM#20
Year: 1996
Weight: 20,00 g
Composition: Silver (0,500)
Diameter: 33,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

500 zaires (Gorilla)

FO#10875 KM#21
Year: 1996
Weight: 20,00 g
Composition: Silver (0,500)
Diameter: 33,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

500 zaires (Okapi)

FO#10876 KM#22
Year: 1996
Weight: 20,00 g
Composition: Silver (0,500)
Diameter: 33,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

1.000 zaires (Hippo)

FO#10877 KM#23
Year: 1997
Weight: 29,63 g
Composition: Silver (0,925)
Diameter: 37,80 mm
Edge: Ribbed

1.000 zaires (Portuguese Caravel)

FO#10873 KM#24
Year: 1997
Weight: 31,47 g
Composition: Silver (0,925)
Diameter: 38,61 mm
Edge: Ribbed

Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Zaire

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