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25 Francs Barbary sheep, gold essai
| Issuer | Niger |
|---|---|
| Year | 1968 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 8 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a bold, naturalistically rendered Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) in right-facing profile, standing in a rocky landscape setting. The animal is depicted with characteristic large curved horns and a heavy mane, rendered in high relief with fine detail. The legend REPUBLIQUE DU NIGER arcs around the upper periphery of the coin in evenly spaced capital letters, framing the central device. The field is polished and deeply mirrored, consistent with proof-quality essai production. The overall composition is centrally balanced, showcasing Niger's native wildlife in a dignified and detailed manner. |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
Niger's essai coinage of 1968 was produced in the years following independence from France, when the newly sovereign state was issuing trial pieces — many struck at the Paris Mint — largely for collector sale rather than circulation. These essais were a common revenue mechanism for Francophone African nations during this period, and most never entered general use. The Barbary sheep, native to the Saharan and sub-Saharan regions Niger spans, was a deliberate assertion of local fauna over the colonial imagery that had preceded it.
KM# E1 designation confirms this as the first essai type recorded for Niger.