Ten Francs Silver 2002 Polaris, Coin from Congo, Democratic Republic of the - detailed information

The Democratic Republic of the Congo normally uses banknotes for circulation, and does not issue coins in the Congolese Franc currency. However, the country has authorised some foreign mints to issue commemorative and bullion coins under its jurisdiction.

Most of them are in standard bullion sizes, but some are not. CIT issued a series of silver 10 Francs and Five Francs in their own format, in 25 to 27 grams of silver. The coins are considered "Non-Circulating Legal Tender" (NCLT) and not bullion because they are issued at prices higher than their bullion value and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic or sentimental value, and not at investors in precious metals.

This coin features Polaris - "the Navigator's Star".

Polaris, or the North Star, is a star that appears almost directly above the Earth's rotational axis. As the Earth turns, every other star seems to spin around the axis, tracing out a circle in the sky, but the North Star appears to stand still - thus it always shows North, and was used as basis for navigation when people relied on the stars only to navigate.