Catalog
1000 Francs CFA Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin
| Issuer | Benin › Benin (1975-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1997 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A polychrome enamelled central field depicts the LZ 129 Hindenburg rigid airship in flight above the Brandenburg Gate, rendered against a teal and blue sky with stylised clouds. To the lower right, a circular inset cameo portrait presents a uniformed bust of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin facing left. The legend FERDINAND GRAF VON ZEPPELIN arcs along the upper periphery, with the airship designation LZ 129 and the commemorative dates 1917-1997 inscribed in the lower field. |
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| Additional information |
Benin's 1990s commemorative program was frankly opportunistic — the country had no meaningful connection to Zeppelin or his airships, and these issues were designed almost entirely for the collector export market rather than domestic circulation. The piece was almost certainly never legal tender in any practical sense on Beninese soil.
Zeppelin flew his first successful rigid airship over Lake Constance in July 1900, after sinking a considerable personal fortune into the project following his forced retirement from the German military. He was 62 at the time.