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10 Francs Ostrich, essai
| Issuer | Niger |
|---|---|
| Year | 1968 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | 0.5 mm |
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| Obverse description | The coat of arms of Niger occupies the central field, depicting a shield bearing a radiant sun, flanked by two crossed spears and decorated with ornamental elements including stylized plant motifs and a bull's head at the base. The national motto FRATERNITÉ-TRAVAIL-PROGRÈS arcs along the upper periphery, while the denomination 10 FRs appears prominently above the shield and the date 1968 is inscribed in the lower field. The word ESSAI is discreetly incused at the lower right, confirming the piece's trial status. The whole is set within a beaded border. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
Niger gained independence from France in 1960, but the first nationally branded coinage took years to materialize. This 1968 essai — a trial or proof-of-concept strike produced for official approval rather than circulation — belongs to a set commissioned through the Paris Mint as Niger established the visual identity of its currency under the West African Monetary Union framework. Essais from this period were typically struck in extremely limited numbers, often fewer than a few dozen pieces, and distributed primarily to government officials and mint archives rather than collectors.