1500 Francs CFA Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Ivory Coast's early 2000s gold miniature series exploited a legal loophole common among West African CFA franc states: member nations of the CFA zone retain the right to issue commemorative coinage independently, even though monetary policy itself is controlled by the BCEAO. This allowed Abidjan to authorize a run of tiny gold pieces marketed almost exclusively to European collectors, with negligible domestic circulation or relevance.

The Pharos of Alexandria was demolished by successive earthquakes between the 10th and 14th centuries. By 1480, its stones had been quarried by the Mamluk sultan Qaitbay to build the fort that still stands on the same promontory.