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20 Francs Skunk
| Issuer | Banque Centrale du Congo |
|---|---|
| Year | 2003 |
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| Currency | Franc (1998-date) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | A standing lion facing left occupies the central field, rendered in high relief against a polished background. The denomination '20 FRANCS' appears in the lower exergue. The circular legend 'REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO' runs along the upper periphery, framed by an inner beaded border. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | A detailed high-relief effigy of a skunk (striped skunk) is depicted in left-facing profile, with its distinctive bushy tail raised and arching over its body. The bilingual species inscription 'Moufette ou Sconse' appears to the right of the animal in the field. The series title 'LES ANIMAUX D'EXCEPTION' curves along the upper legend, and the year '2003' is inscribed in the lower exergue, all within a beaded border. |
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| Additional information |
The "Skunk" nickname in numismatic circles refers to the striped reverse design, but the real story here is institutional: the Banque Centrale du Congo issued a series of small-format gold pieces in the early 2000s during a period when the DRC was emerging from the devastating Second Congo War, a conflict that had fractured the country's monetary infrastructure entirely. These issues were not intended for domestic circulation — they were produced for the international bullion and collector market, effectively generating hard currency revenue while the national banking system was still being reconstituted.