Catalog
1500 Francs CFA French Marianne
| Issuer | Togo |
|---|---|
| Year | 2012 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | KM#122 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A right-facing laureate and draped bust of Marianne, the allegorical personification of the French Republic, dominates the left portion of the field. Her hair is elaborately dressed with a laurel wreath and she wears a Phrygian cap in the classical republican tradition. The legend '2012 LA MARIANNE FRANCAISE' arcs along the right and lower periphery. The fineness and weight specifications '1/2 G .9999 OR PUR' appear in the right field. |
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| Additional information |
Togo's use of the CFA franc ties it to the West African Economic and Monetary Union, whose common currency has been pegged to the euro — and before that, the French franc — since 1945. These fractional gold issues targeting the collector market emerged as WAEMU nations began licensing their monetary authority for bullion and numismatic pieces, a practice that has drawn criticism from economists who argue it commodifies sovereign coinage rights with little benefit to issuing states.
At 0.5 grams of .9999 gold, the practical ceiling for striking quality at this diameter is low, and die-to-die consistency across the run is known to be uneven.