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1000 Francs CFA H.M.S. Endeavour
| Issuer | Benin (1975-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2010 |
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| Currency | CFA Franc (1945-date) |
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| Obverse description | The national coat of arms of Benin occupies the central field, featuring a quartered shield supported by two leopards rampant, surmounted by a buffalo head above a ribbon bearing the national motto. The legend REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN curves along the upper periphery in raised Latin capitals, while the motto FRATERNITE JUSTICE TRAVAIL appears on a scroll beneath the shield. The denomination 1000 FRANCS CFA is inscribed in the lower field below the arms. The design is struck in high relief against a polished proof field. |
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| Obverse lettering | REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN FRATERNITE JUSTICE TRAVAIL 1000 FRANCS CFA |
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| Additional information |
The Endeavour's 1768–1771 voyage under James Cook was never a purely scientific expedition — the Admiralty's sealed orders, opened only after leaving Tahiti, directed Cook to search for the hypothetical southern continent and claim any suitable lands for Britain. Benin's involvement in commemorating this history is purely commercial; the country has issued hundreds of such pieces under licensing arrangements that have nothing to do with its own national narrative.
Cook's ship was originally a Whitby collier named the Earl of Pembroke, purchased by the Navy for £2,840 and renamed before departure.