Catalog
See full images - free registration
Continue with Google - no registration!
or register with email
Why register? Just to keep bots out of our catalog. Your email stays private - we will never share it or send you anything uninvited. We guarantee you that!
500 Francs Leo
| Issuer | Cameroon (1960-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The central motif features a detailed depiction of the Leo zodiac constellation and its symbol rendered beneath a large magnifying glass, set against a deep night sky background with scattered stars. The lion constellation lines connect the principal stars of Leo in their traditional astronomical pattern. The twelve zodiac signs are arranged decoratively around the rim of the coin, forming a continuous border. Selective gold gilding highlights key design elements, accentuating the celestial theme. The overall composition combines astronomical precision with an ornamental, collectible aesthetic. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | (MW) Mint of Poland (Mennica Polska),Warsaw, Poland (1766-date) |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Cameroon's modern commemorative program is operated entirely through licensing agreements with European minting houses — primarily the Monnaie de Paris and various private operators — meaning coins like this one are designed, struck, and marketed in Europe with no meaningful connection to Cameroonian monetary circulation. The 500 Francs face value is nominal; no such silver piece would ever trade at par in Yaoundé.
The selective gilding technique applied here became common in collector coinage after the late 1990s, when mints discovered it dramatically increased perceived retail value at minimal production cost.