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25 Francs CFA Essai
| Issuer | Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1970 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Milled |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a finely engraved frontal bust of a gazelle or antelope emerging from dense vegetation, framed symmetrically by stalks of millet, maize, and other agricultural plants representative of West African flora. A decorative beaded border composed of alternating circular pellets and elongated seeds encircles the entire design, lending an ornate finish to the composition. The engravers' signatures 'G.B.L. BAZOR' appear in small incuse lettering at the lower left of the central device. The date '1970' is inscribed in large numerals along the lower rim within the beaded border. The reverse design is a celebrated example of Lucien Bazor's naturalistic engraving style, combining agricultural and faunal symbolism emblematic of the West African monetary union. |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
The BCEAO was established in 1962 to manage the CFA franc zone across eight West African nations following independence from France, but coin designs took years to stabilize. Essai pieces — official trial strikes produced for approval and archival purposes — were never released into circulation, and surviving examples come almost exclusively from the sets distributed to collectors and institutions at the time of issue.
The 1970 date places this squarely in the early standardization period, when the bank was still confirming which denominations would serve the zone's practical needs.