Catalog
500 Francs CFA Euro Introduction
| Issuer | Benin (1975-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2002 |
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| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
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| Obverse description | The national coat of arms of Benin occupies the central field, featuring a quartered shield supported by two leopards rampant, surmounted by a buffalo head, and a ribbon below bearing the motto. The circular legend REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN runs along the upper periphery in raised Latin letters. The denomination 500 FRANCS CFA is inscribed in two lines across the lower field beneath the arms. The design is rendered in high relief against a deeply mirrored proof field. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | INTRODUCTION DE L'EURO DANS L'ANNEE 2002 1 EURO UNION DE LA MONNAIE EN EUROPE |
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| Additional information |
Benin issued this coin to mark the euro's physical introduction in January 2002 — a monetary event that had no direct bearing on Benin itself, which uses the West African CFA franc pegged to the euro through the French Treasury guarantee. The piece is a commemorative in the strictest sense: issued for collector export, not domestic circulation.
CFA franc states have long produced silver and gold issues through the Paris-based Monnaie de Paris and affiliated minting agents, targeting the European collector market almost exclusively.