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500 Francs Nicolaus Copernicus
| Issuer | Bank of Central African States |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
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| Composition | Silver (.999) |
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| Obverse description | The obverse features the coat of arms of Cameroon centrally positioned, depicting a shield bearing scales of justice surmounted by a five-pointed star, flanked by decorative supporters, with a scroll beneath inscribed REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON / REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN. The field is rendered with an intricate wavy guilloche pattern, partially colored in black on the right half of the coin. The circular legend REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN arcs around the upper rim, accompanied by the bilingual motto PAIX TRAVAIL PATRIE / PEACE WORK FATHERLAND disposed around the arms. The denomination 500 FRANCS CFA appears prominently along the lower rim, with the date 2023 and the silver fineness mark Ag 999 inscribed in the field. |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
The Bank of Central African States — the BEAC — issues commemorative coinage on behalf of its six member nations despite none of them having any historical connection to the subjects honored. Copernicus appears here as part of a broader wave of European-themed issues marketed almost exclusively to overseas collectors, a practice the BEAC has pursued aggressively since the 2010s. The coins are legal tender in name only.
2023 marked the 550th anniversary of Copernicus's birth, which drove a surge of commemorative issues from mints worldwide. The Polish Mint, with an obvious national stake, produced the most authoritative pieces in that anniversary year.