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500 Francs CFA Pope John XXIII
| Issuer | Benin (1975-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field displays the national coat of arms of Benin, featuring a quartered shield supported by two leopards rampant facing inward, with a decorative ribbon below bearing the national motto. The legend REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN arcs along the upper periphery in raised Latin lettering, while the denomination 500 FRANCS CFA is inscribed in bold relief across the lower field. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN FRATERNITE JUSTICE TRAVAIL 500 FRANCS CFA |
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| Additional information |
Benin's use of the BCEAO-administered CFA franc for commemorative silver issues has long been a revenue mechanism rather than a monetary one — these pieces are struck for the collector market and never circulate. Pope John XXIII, who died in 1963, has been a recurring subject in Vatican-themed numismatic programs globally since his beatification in 2000 and canonization in 2014, the same year this piece was issued. The timing is not coincidental.