Catalog
30 000 Francs CFA Gorilla
| Issuer | Benin (1975-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1997 |
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| Currency | CFA Franc (1945-date) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A large gorilla is depicted in full body, rendered in polychrome enamel coloring, grasping a branch and liana amid a lush jungle setting with colorful tropical foliage in greens, browns, and earth tones. The animal is shown in a naturalistic, dynamic posture occupying the majority of the reverse field. The legend PROTECTION DE LA FAUNE arcs along the upper periphery, with the species name GORILLE inscribed to the right of the figure in the mid-field. The date 1997 appears in the lower exergue, completing the wildlife conservation theme of the issue. |
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| Additional information |
Benin has no indigenous gorilla population. The use of the species here is purely commercial — these large-format silver kilos were produced in the late 1990s specifically for the European collector and bullion market, with Benin's issuing authority functioning essentially as a licensing arrangement rather than any reflection of national monetary need. The CFA franc was pegged to the French franc at the time, making a 30,000 CFA denomination a face value of roughly 300 French francs — nominal against the silver content.
KM#A36 is one of several oversized issues from this period where attribution to Benin is nominal at best. The actual minting was contracted to European private mints.