The "Durga I" designation places this within a BEAC-issued series drawing on Hindu iconography — an unusual pairing for a central bank whose member states (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Republic of Congo) have no historical or cultural connection to the Indian subcontinent. These are frankly collector-market productions, designed in Europe and sold through numismatic distributors rather than circulated through the CFA franc zone.
The BEAC has issued collector coinage of this type since the early 2000s, leveraging its minting authority to generate foreign exchange revenue. KM#626 is a modern bullion-adjacent piece with a face value that bears no relation to its silver content or market price.
The "Durga I" designation places this within a BEAC-issued series drawing on Hindu iconography — an unusual pairing for a central bank whose member states (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Republic of Congo) have no historical or cultural connection to the Indian subcontinent. These are frankly collector-market productions, designed in Europe and sold through numismatic distributors rather than circulated through the CFA franc zone.
The BEAC has issued collector coinage of this type since the early 2000s, leveraging its minting authority to generate foreign exchange revenue. KM#626 is a modern bullion-adjacent piece with a face value that bears no relation to its silver content or market price.