Catalog
50 Francs Lion, gold essai
| Issuer | République du Niger |
|---|---|
| Year | 1968 |
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| Weight | 16 g |
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| Obverse description | The coat of arms of Niger occupies the central field, featuring a shield flanked by two crossed spears and adorned with a central sun motif. The national motto FRATERNITÉ-TRAVAIL-PROGRÈS is inscribed along the upper arc of the legend, while the denomination 50 FRs appears to the right and the date 1968 is placed in the lower field. The word ESSAI, denoting trial strike status, appears within the legend. The design is rendered in high relief with a deeply mirrored proof-like field typical of essai coinage. |
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| Obverse lettering | FRATERNITÉ-TRAVAIL-PROGRÈS 50 FRs 1968 ESSAI (Translation: Brotherhood, work, progress. Trial.) |
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| Additional information |
Niger's 1968 gold essai series was produced in the lead-up to the country's adoption of revised coinage under the West African franc system, with pattern pieces like this struck in precious metals for official approval — a process that rarely translated into circulating production. Most essais from francophone West African states of this period were produced by the Paris Mint in extremely limited numbers, typically fewer than 100 pieces, distributed almost entirely to government ministers and monetary authorities rather than entering any commercial channel.