In 2005 the African Development Bank recently issued a series of coins, each of which feature a form of primitive money once used in the past by each of the six member nations. Each coin's denomination is 1500 CFA Francs. The coins measure 27mm and are composed of nickel-plated steel. The obverse of every coin features an Elephant’s head and a map of Africa, while each reverse features a different form of primitive money once used in the member nation's monetary past. The Cameroon issue features a Mambila. Three pieces of Spear Money embellish the coin of the Central African Republic. A Manilla Slave Bracelet decorates the Chad issue. A Katanga Cross is on the coin from the Congo Republic. A pair of Cowrie shells adorn the Equatorial Guinea coin. The Gabon coin shows a piece of Throwing Knife Money. Each coin's mintage is only 2005 pieces! All 6 photos courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery at worldcoingallery.com. NOTE: The following links are included so you may view the actual item presented. Some links will take you to a site where the item is for sale. I neither endorse or disapprove of the item, its price, nor the person or firm tendering the offer. CAMEROON 1500 FRANCS 2005 (Mambila): Mambilas are woven shields which were used as a primitive currency between tribes of the Cameroun. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...rimative Mambila money&query=Cameroon mambila Here's a photo of a woven mambila courtesy of Bodley of the United Kingdom: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/external/isca/meek/shield1.gif CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 1500 Francs 2005 (Spear Money): Note: Don's text reads "Crossed lances," but those are Crossed spears: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...5) Crossed lances&query=Central Africa* km 12 Here's a web page maintained by Scott Seman just brimming over with Spear Money photos: http://www.coincoin.com/seXX2s.htm And here's another webpage presenting Spear Money photos: http://www.hamillgallery.com/CURRENCY/FANGCURRENCY/FangCurrency1.html CHAD 1500 Francs 2005 (Manilla Slave Bracelet): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...s (2005) Manilla bracelet&query=Chad bracelet Here's a photo of Primitive Slave Bracelet Money courtesy of Aurora History Boutique aurorahistoryboutiqne.com: http://www.aurorahistoryboutique.com/Authentic-African-Slave-Bracelets~P000003.cfm CONGO REPUBLIC 1500 Francs 2005 (Katanga Cross): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...ancs (2005) Katanga Cross&query=Congo katanga Here's a photo of a Primitive Katanga Cross (aka Saba Cross): http://www.collectplaza.lt/articles.php?product=8204 EQUATORIAL GUINEA 1500 Francs 2005 (Cowrie shells): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... (2005) Cowry shells&query=equ* guinea km 124 Here's drawings of African Cowrie Shell Money courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg Here's a photo of real Cowrie Shell Money courtesy of Scott Seman's Coin-Coin website: http://www.coincoin.com/XX200.99.jpg GABON 1500 Francs 2005 (Throwing knife Money): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...rancs (2005) Throwing knife&query=Gabon knife Here's a webpage with many photos of Throwing Knife Money (ouch!remind me to stay out of Gabon): http://www.hamillgallery.com/CURRENCY/FANGCURRENCY/FangCurrency1.html Hope you enjoyed this post... Clinker
Interesting as a theme, yes. And most of them have nice designs too - thanks for putting them together for us. As for the "status" of these pieces, do you or does anybody have any info? My catalog (Schön, World Coins) says that those "1500 CFA / 1 Africa" and "4500 CFA / 3 Africa" pieces were non-official issues ... Christian
Interesting, as usual. Nice coins. I sure wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of that throwing knife.
christian: All I czn find is they were all proofs minted only for collectors. No mention of Legal Tender. Clinker
