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500 Francs European stag beetle
| Issuer | Republic of Cameroon |
|---|---|
| Year | 2020 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a richly colored, full-field depiction of lush green oak foliage, upon which rests a three-dimensional magnifying glass insert with a silver handle extending to the right. Within the circular lens of the magnifying glass, a naturalistic full-color image of a male European stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) is displayed in close-up detail, showing its distinctive dark chestnut-brown elytra, black thorax and legs, and prominent, branched reddish-brown mandibles. The scientific name 'Lucanus cervus' is inscribed in italic lettering within the magnifying glass field to the left of the beetle. The combination of photorealistic color printing and the physical magnifying glass insert creates a striking trompe-l'oeil entomological composition. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Cameroon's wildlife coin program has leaned heavily on novelty inserts since the mid-2010s, and this piece follows that pattern with an embedded magnifying glass positioned over the beetle engraving — a gimmick that nonetheless required precise alignment during the striking and encapsulation process. The European stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) is, despite the coin's issuer, a species native to Central and Western Europe, listed as near threatened under IUCN criteria and protected under the EU Habitats Directive since 1992.
Cameroon issues coins of this type almost entirely for the collector export market, with no meaningful domestic circulation.