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20 Francs Megateuthis gigantea
| Issuer | Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2021 |
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| Currency | Franc (1998-date) |
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| Obverse description | Within a raised rim and outer beaded border enclosing an inner line circle, the central field bears the Coat of Arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in relief. The national legend arcs along the upper periphery, while the denomination appears in the lower field below the arms. |
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| Reverse description | The central field features a detailed, close-up relief depiction of Megateuthis gigantea, an extinct giant squid, rendered in high relief against a mirror-polished background. The series name 'Predators' arcs along the upper portion of the field, with the species name and extinction status inscribed below it. The year of issue appears to the right, while the fineness and weight specifications are inscribed in the lower exergue. |
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| Additional information |
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has operated a prolific commemorative bullion program since the early 2000s, contracting production almost entirely to European mints — primarily in Austria and Poland — for coins that will never circulate domestically. This piece belongs to a natural history series built around prehistoric cephalopods, a subject with no cultural or historical connection to the issuing nation.
*Megateuthis gigantea* was a belemnite reaching estimated lengths of two to three meters, known almost exclusively from fossilized rostra recovered in Jurassic deposits across Europe and Central Asia.