Description

The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) is a central bank serving the eight west African countries which share the common West African CFA franc currency and comprise the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA): Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

Engraver: Gabriel Bernard Lucien Bazor

Obverse

Depicts head of rhim gazelle (front) above a wreath of variable plants, date below surrounded by 8 nuts, above an arc with 12 bunches of grapes.

The rhim gazelle or rhim (Gazella leptoceros), also known as the slender-horned gazelle, sand gazelle or Loder's gazelle. Growing to a length of 101 to 116 cm (40 to 46 in), this is the palest of the gazelles, and well adapted to desert life in many ways. The upper parts are pale buff or cream and the limbs and under parts white or pale buff. The horns on the male are slender and slightly S-shaped; those of the female are even thinner, lighter and nearly straight. There are faint facial markings and an indistinct stripe along the side. The tail is brownish-black, about 15 cm (6 in) long, and contrasts with the pale rump.

G.B.L. BAZOR
1971

Reverse

Depicts a stylized sawfish, denomination and the bank's name.

Sawfishes, also known as carpenter sharks, are a family of rays characterized by a long, narrow, flattened rostrum, or nose extension, lined with sharp transverse teeth, arranged in a way that resembles a saw. They are among the largest fish with some species reaching lengths of about 7 m (23 ft). They are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions in coastal marine and brackish estuarine waters, as well as freshwater rivers and lakes.

A stylized sawfish was chosen by the Central Bank of the West African States to appear on coins and banknotes of the CFA currency. This was due to the mythological value representing fecundity and prosperity. The image takes its form from an Akan and Baoule bronze weight used for exchanges in the commercial trade of gold powder.

Mint mark of the Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris in Pessac): Cornucopia

Engraver general's privy mark:
• owl (Raymond Joly, 1958-1974)
• dolphin (Emile Rousseau, 1974-1994)

BANQUE CENTRALE
10
FRANCS
ETATS DE L'AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST

Edge

10 Francs

KM# 1a Schön# 12a
Characteristics
Material Aluminium Nickel Bronze
Weight 3.84 g
Diameter 23.5 mm
Thickness 1.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Paris Mint (A)

Related coins

Aluminium Bronze, 4 g, ⌀ 23.5 mm

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Aluminium Bronze, 4 g, ⌀ 23.5 mm