1500 Francs CFA Senufo Mask

Ivory Coast's francs CFA are issued under the West African Economic and Monetary Union, meaning Abidjan has no independent monetary authority — these collector pieces are produced under licensing arrangements with foreign mints and exist purely as numismatic exports. The Senufo people, concentrated in the north of the country, were largely outside colonial administrative interest until the French pushed inland in the 1890s, and their mask traditions were unknown to Western collectors until mid-20th century anthropological work made them internationally recognized.

At 0.5 grams, this sits at the lower boundary of what refiners will certify at .999 fineness without alloying for structural integrity.