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500 Francs Year of the Dragon, fortune, 3D
| Issuer | National Bank of Rwanda |
|---|---|
| Year | 2012 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 500 Francs |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A highly sculptural, ultra-high-relief three-dimensional depiction of a coiled Chinese dragon dominates the entire field, its sinuous body scaled in elaborate detail and curling upon itself to fill the coin's surface. The dragon's horned head faces right with an open mouth, while its clawed feet and flame-like whiskers are rendered in sharp, raised relief. A decorative circular medallion at the center of the coil bears the Chinese character 龍 (dragon) in stylized calligraphy surrounded by cloud and floral ornamentation. The legend YEAR OF THE DRAGON arcs along the upper border in ornate gothic-style lettering, with the date 2012 inscribed at the base of the coin. |
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| Additional information |
Rwanda's commemorative silver program in the early 2010s was explicitly aimed at the Asian collector market, and this piece was struck to coincide with the Chinese lunar new year cycle — the Year of the Dragon falling in 2012 for the first time since 2000. The National Bank of Rwanda had no domestic numismatic tradition tied to the Chinese calendar; the issuing authority is effectively a licensing arrangement with a European minting house targeting Pacific Rim distributors.
The lenticular 3D effect was achieved through a patented prismatic die technology developed in the mid-2000s, requiring multiple striking passes at pressures incompatible with standard coinage runs.