I ran across this coin about 18-20 years ago and like it all the more with the passage of time. It is an essai strike in gold of the silver crown. There is also a 5000 CFA that was also struck in gold but in a smaller format (1.4 ounces for this, 0.4193 for the smaller one). Confusingly, they are the same denomination and even moreso that the smaller coin ALSO comes in essai form.
That freaky sawfish(?) critter always made me shake my head. It's almost like looking at an ancient Celtic coin. ("Hmm... What exactly am I looking at? Dunno, exactly- I've got a hint, but who knows for sure. Dunno what it is, but it looks cool!") Extra credit for the five swirleybirds, too.
At first a strange look, and then came to like it more and more. The silver versions are quite nice also, and quite a bit less expensive.
…Surely you’ve heard the phrase “birds of a feather”…it’s on the coin: solidarity, union and monitaire…they “flock” together in their monetary system…Spark edited to add: The precise translation is: strengthening solidarity and cohesion of the monetary union
