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50 Francs Independence
| Issuer | Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique Équatoriale et du Cameroun (BCEAC) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1960 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | CFA franc (Central bank of Equatorial African States and Cameroon, 1961-1973) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The central field bears the bold denomination '50' in large numerals, surmounted by the two-line legend 'BANQUE CENTRALE' and underscored by 'FRANCS', all set within an ornate wreath composed of characteristic Cameroonian agricultural produce, including cocoa pods, coffee berries, and cotton bolls, tied at the base with additional botanical elements. The wreath frame is rendered in fine relief, conveying the region's tropical agricultural wealth. The overall design is clean and heraldic, with no additional mint marks visible. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Edge | Log in to see details |
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| Additional information |
The BCEAC was a transitional institution, created to manage the monetary transition as France's Equatorial African territories moved toward independence in 1960. Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Congo, and Gabon each achieved formal sovereignty that year, and this coin was issued to mark that collective moment — a single currency serving five newly independent states simultaneously, each with its own government but still sharing a franc zone pegged to the French franc.
The arrangement was contentious from the start. Full monetary autonomy remained elusive; the CFA franc system kept the issuing authority structurally dependent on the Banque de France for decades afterward.