TOGOLESE REPUBLIC - CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO) ISSUE
WILDLIFE PROTECTION SERIES - THE GIANT PANGOLIN
EXTREMELY RARE ESSAI (TEST STRIKE) PATTERN - ONE YEAR TYPE
ONLY 55 MINTED!
GOLD TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND FRANCS CERTIFIED BY NGC MINT STATE 68
OBV: NATIONAL ARMS; DATE DATE BELOW.
REV: GREAT PANGOLIN LEFT; DENOMINATION ALONG EDGE BENEATH.
THE AFRICAN NATION OF TOGO (THE TOGOLESE REPUBLIC) IS A MEMBER OF THE WEST AFRICAN ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION (UEMOA) ALONG WITH SEVEN OTHER WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES, BENIN, BURKINA FASO, GUINEA-BISSAU, IVORY COAST, MALI, NIGER AND SENEGAL. EACH MEMBER STATE USES THE WEST AFRICAN CFA FRANC AS COMMON CURRENCY, AND EXCEPT FOR THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY OF GUINEA-BISSAU, WERE FORMER COLONIES OF FRENCH WEST AFRICA. IN 2007, THE COMMON CENTRAL BANK (BCEAO) ISSUED THE STRIKING WILDLIFE PROTECTION SERIES OF ESSAI PIECES IN EXTREMELY LIMITED MINTAGES, A DIFFERENT ANIMAL FEATURED FOR EACH MEMBER COUNTRY.
THIS COIN DEPICTS THE GIANT PANGOLIN (MANIS GIGANTEA), WHICH IS THE LARGEST SPECIES OF PANGOLIN OR "SCALY ANTEATER". GIANT PANGOLIN ARE NATIVE TO AFRICA, ARE A NOCTURNAL FOREST OR SAVANNA DWELLING MAMMAL, AND SUBSIST ENTRIELY ON A DIET OF ANTS OR TERMITES. ADULTS REACH A LITTLE OFVER FOUR FEET IN LENGTH. THE ARMORED SCALES COVERING THE BODY OF THE PANGOLIN IS MADE OF IMPACTED HAIR (PANGOLIN SCALES HAVE BEEN USED IN THE MAKING OF ARMOR BY HUMANS). THE GREATEST THREATS TO THE GIANT PANGOLIN ARE DEFORESTATION AND DESTRUCTION OF THEIR HABITAT, AS WELL AS BEING HUNTED FOR THEIR MEAT AND FOR USE OF THEIR SCALES IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINES.
KM # NOT LISTED
CONTAINS .25 OUNCE OF GOLD
22 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 55 MINTED!
