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1000 Francs Arsène Lupin
| Issuer | Bank of Central African States (BEAC) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2022 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | CFA franc (Bank of Central African States, 1973-date) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | A circular black crystal insert is set at centre-right of the field, displaying a detailed fingerprint motif, housed within a magnifying glass suspended on a fine ball chain. The upper field is adorned with elaborate acanthus leaf scrollwork in high relief, framing the composition in an ornate Belle Époque style. The denomination '1000 FRANCS CFA' appears in the left field in bold relief. The curved legend 'REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN 2022' runs along the lower rim, with a fine beaded inner border encircling the entire design. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Arsène Lupin is a French fictional character created by Maurice Leblanc, first appearing in a 1905 short story published in the magazine Je sais tout. The gentleman-burglar became one of the most enduring figures in French popular literature, rivaling Sherlock Holmes in European readership through much of the twentieth century. The BEAC's decision to license him for a commemorative issue is a commercial one — the bank has become a prolific issuer of high-premium collector coins with no meaningful connection to Central Africa.
The crystal insert is a feature increasingly common to this segment of the numismatic market since roughly 2015, borrowed from the decorative arts trade rather than any minting tradition.