25 Francs Independence, essai

Niger gained independence from France on August 3, 1960, and these gold essais were produced as pattern strikes to commemorate the occasion — almost certainly by the Paris Mint, which retained the contract for Francophone West African coinage well into the postcolonial period. They were never intended for circulation. Essais of this type were typically struck in very small numbers, distributed among government officials, mint archives, and a handful of dealers.

The 1960 independence coinage for Niger is among the thinner series from the former AOF territories, making survivors in any condition genuinely scarce.