500 Francs Lewis Edson Waterman

Waterman founded his pen company in 1884 after, by his own account, a leaking fountain pen ruined a contract signing — a story repeated so often it has acquired the texture of myth, though its broad outline is accepted. Cameroon's series of miniature silver issues nominally denominated in CFA francs has no meaningful connection to the currency in circulation; these are sold directly to collectors worldwide and never approach a cash register in Douala or Yaoundé.

At one gram, the planchet is among the smallest produced for any modern numismatic issue.