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500 Francs CFA Long-snouted Seahorse
| Issuer | Bank of Central African States (BEAC) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Right-facing diademed effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, rendered after the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait, set against a finely engraved guilloche lattice background with radiating dot border. The legend ELIZABETH II arcs above along the upper periphery, while REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON curves along the lower periphery. The denomination 500 and date 2023 appear divided on either side of the field within the guilloche pattern. The initials IRB appear below the truncation of the bust, and a small shield device is positioned at the base of the design. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | ELIZABETH II · 500 FRANCS CFA 2023 IRB · REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON · |
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| Additional information |
The long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) is native to European Atlantic and Mediterranean waters — not Central African ones. BEAC's use of it here has nothing to do with regional fauna and everything to do with the booming market for novelty wildlife coins sold almost exclusively to Western collectors. These issues are legal tender in name only; Cameroon, Chad, and their BEAC partners have minted dozens of such pieces since the 2010s with no expectation of circulation.
Rhodium plating on a .999 silver flan became fashionable among boutique mints around 2018 as a way to justify premium pricing and create contrast effects.