Gem, Rock, and Mineral Postage Stamps From
Congo Democratic Republic

Official Name:	Democratic Republic of the Congo
National Name:	République Democratique du Congo
Alternate Names:	Congo; Congo Republic; République du Congo; not to be confused with Congo People's Republic which has also been called Congo and Republic of the Congo
Monetary Units:	The original monetary unit was the Congolese franc, formerly at par with Belgian franc. In 1967, the (old) Zaïre replaced the Congolese franc, with 1 zaïre = 100 makuta (makuta is the plural of likuta) = 10,000 sengi. In 1993, the new Zaïre replaced the (old) Zaïre at a rate of 3,000,000 (old) zaïres to 1 new Zaïre. In 1998, the Congolese franc replaced the new Zaïre at a rate of 1 Congolese franc to 100,000 new Zaïre.
Location:	Central Africa; bordered by Congo People's Republic (northwest); Central African Republic and Sudan (north); Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania (east); Zambia (southeast); and Angola (southwest).
History:	Congo was an independent state until 1908, when it was annexed to Belgium as a colony and became the Belgian Congo. In 1960, Belgium granted independence to the Belgian Congo, and the name became the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1971, the name was changed to the Republic of Zaire. In 1997, the name was changed back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mineral Resources:	Cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal.


Copper Congo Democratic Republic Scott 634 6 makuta	Diamond Congo Democratic Republic Scott 636 9.8 makuta

This set of 2 stamps was issued on 2 May 1969. Both stamps show illustrations of natural, unpolished specimens.