1000 Francs CFA Self-portrait in a dark felt hat

This piece belongs to a wave of silver-plated copper issues that flooded the commemorative market in the 2010s, produced largely by the Bavarian State Mint and similar European facilities under licensing arrangements with Central African franc zone nations. Gabon itself has no domestic mint; the physical coins have no meaningful connection to the country beyond the legal issuing authority assigned by the Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale.

Van Gogh's 1887 self-portrait series was painted in Paris during his period studying with the Impressionists — before Arles, before the breakdown. The felt hat works appear on at least a dozen commemorative coins from various issuers, a frequency that reflects licensing convenience more than curatorial judgment.