Catalogue
| Description de l’avers | Value inside a circle, offset to the bottom, made by the `OUEST AFRICAIN FRANÇAIS` and `1883` lettering. |
|---|---|
| Écriture de l’avers | Latin |
| Légende de l’avers |
OUEST AFRICAIN FRANÇAIS 5 1883 (Translation: French African West.) |
| Description du revers | Same as obverse. |
| Écriture du revers | Latin |
| Légende du revers |
OUEST AFRICAIN FRANÇAIS 5 1883 (Translation: French African West.) |
| Tranche | Plain |
| Atelier | |
| Tirage |
1883 - - |
| ID Numisquare | 7846368050 |
| Informations supplémentaires |
Historical Context: The 1883 5 Units coin for French West Africa reflects the Third French Republic's (1870-1940) vigorous colonial expansion. This period saw the consolidation of the Afrique Occidentale Française (AOF). The "Units" currency, distinct from the metropolitan franc, represents an early, localized attempt to establish a monetary system within the nascent colonial economy. This facilitated trade and administration, underscoring France's assertion of economic control in its West African territories.
Artistry: As a small, base-metal issue, the 5 Units coin likely adheres to a functional, academic style typical of late 19th-century French colonial coinage,