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25 Francs Essai
| Issuer | Banque Centrale du Mali |
|---|---|
| Year | 1976 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 2.5 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A naturalistic depiction of a millet or sorghum plant occupies the entire field, rendered in fine relief with multiple drooping grain-laden panicles radiating from a central cluster of stalks. The plant's heavily laden seed heads cascade downward in an elegant, detailed composition symbolizing agricultural abundance. A decorative serrated or zigzag border frames the design around the entire circumference. The word 'ESSAI' (meaning 'trial' or 'pattern') is inscribed in the lower portion of the field beneath the plant. |
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| Reverse lettering | ESSAI |
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| Additional information |
Essai pieces from the Banque Centrale du Mali are pattern-grade strikes produced for official approval, not circulation — Mali's monetary authority used the French essai system inherited from the West African franc zone infrastructure. The BCM issued very few independent essai types before the country rejoined the West African CFA franc arrangement in 1984, making the window for distinctly Malian coinage narrow.
Aluminium essais of this period were typically struck in extremely limited quantities, often fewer than a few hundred pieces, distributed primarily to approving ministries and international coin archives.