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25 000 Francs CFA - Bokassa I Essai
| Issuer | Central African Republic |
|---|---|
| Year | 1978-1979 |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Facing bust of Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa I, depicted in elaborate imperial military uniform adorned with heavily embossed epaulettes, laurel-leaf decoration, and a bow tie at the collar. The effigy is rendered in high relief with fine portrait detail. To the lower right of the bust, an imperial crown is depicted in the field. The curved legend EMPEREUR BOKASSA 1er arcs around the upper periphery. |
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| Obverse lettering | EMPEREUR BOKASSA 1er (Translation: Emperor Bokassa 1st) |
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| Additional information |
Jean-Bédel Bokassa proclaimed himself Emperor of the Central African Empire in December 1977, staging a coronation modeled on Napoleon's that cost an estimated $20–30 million — roughly one-third of the country's annual budget, partially funded by France. This essai was struck in the window between that proclamation and his overthrow by French paratroopers in September 1979, during Operation Barracuda. The regular circulation issue never materialized in meaningful quantities, making trial pieces like this the primary numismatic record of a monetary program that effectively died with the empire itself.