Cameroon 1970 3000 francs
This specimen was lot 1839 in Goldberg sale 93 (Los Angeles, September 2016), where it sold for $493.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Cameroun. 3000 Francs, 1970 Brilliant Proof. 10th Anniversary of Independence. Head of President El Hajj Ahmadou Ahidjo. Reverse: Elk horns. Brilliant Proof." This design was also used for commemorative one thousand, five thousand, ten thousand and twenty thousand francs. No doubt they were passed out to friends and supporters of the beloved president as there is no evidence they ever circulated. The auction catalog called the reverse design "elk horns", which seems improbable as elk roam Europe and North America, not central Africa. Kudu horns seem more likely.
Recorded mintage: 4,000.
Specification: 10.5 g, 0.900 fine gold, .3038 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-4; KM-19.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 93: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2016.
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