In June 1960 the former Belgian colony of Congo gained independence. A week later the province of Katanga separated itself from the Congo. With this the Congo most of its mineral assets, as Katanga is very rich in resources of gold, copper and uranium. From 1960 to 1963, Katanga was an independent state. During that time it issued coins depicting a Katanga cross. The state's coat of arms and many of the issued post stamps bore such crosses too.