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500 Francs Okapi
| Issuer | Cameroon (1960-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2021 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 15.50 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | • ELIZABETH II • 500 FRANCS CFA • 2021 IRB REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
The okapi is not a Cameroonian animal. Native to the dense rainforests of the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, it was unknown to Western science until 1901, when British explorer P.L. Sclater formally described the species from skins obtained by Sir Harry Johnston. Its appearance on a Cameroonian issue reflects the modern bullion and collector coin trade, where sovereign minting rights are licensed to private distributors — often European — who select imagery with broad collector appeal rather than national relevance.
Cameroon has issued dozens of such pieces under this arrangement since the 2000s, with the face value being largely nominal against the silver content.