Catalog
1000 Francs CFA Elephant
| Issuer | Republic of the Congo |
|---|---|
| Year | 1996 |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | A seated female allegorical figure is depicted in the central field, holding a tablet inscribed with the words LIBERTE TRAVAIL PROGRES, rendered in a classical engraving style. The figure is positioned facing slightly to the right, with drapery falling across her lower body. The circular legend REPUBLIQUE DU CONGO arcs across the upper portion of the coin, while the denomination 1000 FRANCS appears along the lower field. The design is executed in high relief against a smooth, mirrored proof field. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | FAUNE AFRICAINE 1996 LOXODONTA AFRICANA (Translation: African Fauna) |
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| Additional information |
The Republic of the Congo — not to be confused with the far larger Democratic Republic of the Congo across the river — issued a series of wildlife-themed silver pieces during the 1990s squarely aimed at the collector market rather than circulation. These were produced under the broader wave of African sovereign mint programs administered through European minting houses, where small nations licensed their issuing authority to generate hard currency revenue from foreign collectors.
The elephant series from this period was struck at a moment when the country was sliding toward the civil conflict that would erupt into full-scale war by 1997.