5 Francs CFA Essai

The Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale was established in 1972 to replace the earlier Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique Équatoriale et du Cameroun, and this essai belongs to the first wave of coinage produced under the new institution's authority. Essais of this type were struck in limited quantities for official approval — typically distributed to member state finance ministries and retained by the issuing authority rather than released into circulation.

The CFA franc zone itself had been pegged to the French franc since 1948 at a fixed rate undisturbed until the 50% devaluation of January 1994.