3000 Francs Bongo

Issued to commemorate the first anniversary of Omar Bongo's presidency, this piece belongs to a short series of gold coins that Gabon released in 1969 — the country's first gold coinage since independence from France in 1960. Bongo had assumed power in late 1967 following the death of Léon M'ba, and the anniversary issues were an explicit instrument of political legitimation for a leader who had not come to power through election.

Mintage across the entire 1969 gold series was extremely limited. The 3000 Francs denomination is the mid-tier piece, struck at the Paris Mint under the Monnaie de Paris marking conventions of the period.