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5 Cedis - Elizabeth II Three Wise Monkeys
| Issuer | Bank of Ghana |
|---|---|
| Year | 2022 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Three wise monkeys seated in a row, each depicted in high relief performing the iconic gestures of the ancient Japanese proverbial maxim: the first covering its eyes (see no evil), the second covering its ears (hear no evil), and the third covering its mouth (speak no evil). The figures are rendered with fine naturalistic detail against a textured field, with the three-part inscription arcing along the lower portion of the design. The overall composition evokes the Nikko Tosho-gu shrine iconography in a contemporary numismatic interpretation. |
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| Additional information |
Ghana's "Three Wise Monkeys" issue belongs to a wave of sub-Saharan collector coinage produced almost entirely for the European and Asian novelty bullion market — not for domestic circulation. The Bank of Ghana has licensed its sovereign authority to third-party minting programs since the 2010s, with the actual striking typically contracted to facilities in Germany or Poland rather than the Accra Mint.
The "mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru" motif originates from 17th-century Japanese Tōshō-gū shrine carvings, almost certainly derived from a Confucian moral maxim. Its appearance on a Ghanaian sovereign coin reflects commercial demand rather than any cultural or historical connection to the issuing nation.