Catalog
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| Issuer | Republic of the Congo |
|---|---|
| Year | 1996 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A colorized African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is depicted in full profile facing left, rendered in naturalistic detail with applied color highlighting the animal's form against a lush green background suggestive of its natural habitat. The upper legend FAUNE AFRICAINE arcs around the top of the coin, while the date 1996 appears in the mid-field. The scientific name LOXODONTA AFRICANA is inscribed along the lower portion of the reverse, completing the wildlife theme of this commemorative issue. |
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| Reverse lettering | FAUNE AFRICAINE 1996 LOXODONTA AFRICANA (Translation: African Fauna) |
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| Additional information |
The Republic of the Congo — not to be confused with the far larger Democratic Republic of the Congo across the river — issued a series of wildlife-themed silver pieces during the 1990s squarely aimed at the collector market rather than circulation. These were produced under the broader wave of African sovereign mint programs administered through European minting houses, where small nations licensed their issuing authority to generate hard currency revenue from foreign collectors.
The elephant series from this period was struck at a moment when the country was sliding toward the civil conflict that would erupt into full-scale war by 1997.