100 Dobras World Fisheries Conference, Gold Proof

The 1984 World Fisheries Conference, convened by the FAO in Rome, prompted a wave of commemorative issues from nations whose economies depended heavily on fishing rights and maritime resources. For São Tomé and Príncipe — a two-island state whose exclusive economic zone vastly exceeds its land area — the subject was not incidental. The islands had gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and were still in the early years of asserting control over their Atlantic fishing grounds, largely exploited by foreign fleets operating under bilateral agreements.

Gold proof issues from this program were struck in extremely limited quantities and distributed primarily through the international numismatic market rather than domestic circulation.