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5 Francs Norway - Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra
| Issuer | Banque Centrale du Congo |
|---|---|
| Year | 1999 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | A bold relief portrait of a roaring lion's head facing left occupies the central inner circle, rendered with fine engraved detail in the mane and facial features. Surrounding the inner circle, the legend REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO arcs around the middle ring. The outer border bears the legend BANQUE CENTRALE at the top and the denomination 5 FRANCS at the bottom, flanked by star ornaments. The date is split as 19 and 99 on either side of the outer ring. The design is executed in a three-tiered concentric format with a polished proof field. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Congo's central bank issued a wave of foreign-celebrity commemoratives in the late 1990s, a transparent revenue scheme targeting overseas collectors rather than domestic circulation. This piece, coupling a Norwegian crown princess with her infant daughter, has no meaningful connection to the Congo and was never intended for use as currency.
Norway's Princess Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, two years after this coin's issue date — making the "Princess" title on this piece technically premature at time of striking.