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5000 Francs CFA Ludwig Van Beethoven
| Issuer | Bank of Central African States |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
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| Composition | Silver (.999) |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse is designed to evoke a classical wax seal, with a deeply recessed circular medallion at center set against a darkened antiqued field. Within the medallion, a finely detailed high-relief bust of Ludwig van Beethoven is depicted facing slightly left, rendered in a Romantic portrait style with characteristic wild, flowing hair and an intense, brooding expression. The composer is shown in period dress with a cravat and coat collar. A cursive facsimile signature reading 'Ludwig van Beethoven' is incised in the left field of the medallion. The surrounding irregular scalloped border of the planchet is given a contrasting satin finish, evoking the spread of molten sealing wax. |
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| Additional information |
The Bank of Central African States — the BEAC — issues currency for six member nations: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo. None of them have any historical or geographic connection to Beethoven. These coins are produced exclusively for the international collector market, a practice the BEAC has leaned into aggressively since the 2010s, licensing themes with zero regional relevance purely for export revenue.
Beethoven died in Vienna in 1827, famously deaf for the last decade of his life. The 200th anniversary of his death falls in 2027 — making the timing of this 2023 issue somewhat premature even by commemorative standards.