5000 Francs CFA African Silver Lion

The Republic of the Congo — not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of the Congo across the river — has issued commemorative bullion coinage through licensed third-party minting programs since the early 2000s, a practice common among smaller francophone African states whose monetary policy is governed by the BEAC rather than independent central banks. The actual striking of this piece almost certainly occurred in Europe, most likely a Polish or Czech facility specializing in large-format silver issues for the collector market.

At 124 grams, this is essentially a 4-troy-ounce round dressed in sovereign coinage status.