Catalog
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| Issuer | Bank of Central African States (BEAC) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2024 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | KM#406 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse is struck in sculptural three-dimensional relief to represent the full blade of a traditional Japanese katana, with the elongated curved form faithfully reproduced in fine silver. The blade surface is adorned with traditional Japanese horimono-style ornamentation, including decorative engraving along the fuller, lending the piece both artistic and historic authenticity. The hamon, the temper line characteristic of genuine katana blades, is rendered along the cutting edge in fine detail. The overall composition captures the iconic silhouette and craftsmanship of the samurai sword, presenting the coin as a sculptural collectible rather than a conventional flat issue. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The katana has no geographic or cultural connection to Central Africa, and that's precisely the point. BEAC's numismatic program — operated largely through European distributors — has for years issued collector silver on themes chosen for their appeal to international buyers rather than any regional relevance. These pieces are legal tender of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community in name, though they are never intended to circulate and are typically sold far outside the issuing states.
KM#406 places this among a long series of BEAC-authorized issues struck almost certainly at a European facility, most likely B.H. Mayer's Kunstprägeanstalt in Munich, which has handled a substantial portion of BEAC's collector coinage contracts.