Obverse. Photo © Heritage Auctions
  • 25 Pounds 1978, KM# 78, Sudan, Khartoum OAU Summit
  • 25 Pounds 1978, KM# 78, Sudan, Khartoum OAU Summit
Description

The Organization of African Unity (OAU), established on May 25, 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aimed to promote political and economic integration among its 32 member governments and eliminate colonialism in Africa. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana played a significant role in its formation. Dissolved on July 9, 2002, by South African President Thabo Mbeki, the OAU was succeeded by the African Union (AU), which was created to address the OAU's limitations, including the absence of a military force. The AU, formed on the basis of the OAU's September 1999 Declaration, continues to uphold the foundational principles of its predecessor.

The OAU Summit of 1978 took place in Khartoum, Sudan, from July 18 to 22.

Obverse

Depicts the national emblem of the Democratic Republic of the Sudan (1970–1985), denominations on both sides, dates in Gregorian and Islamic year in Arabic numerals below. Countermarks of B23 in hexagon and bell (if any) between dates.

The emblem shows a secretarybird bearing a shield from the time of Muhammad Ahmad, the self-proclaimed Mahdi who briefly ruled Sudan in the 19th century. Two scrolls are placed on the arms; the upper one displays the national motto, ("Victory is ours"), and the lower one displays the title of the state.

The secretarybird was chosen as a distinctively Sudanese and indigenous variant of the "Eagle of Saladin" and "Hawk of Quraish" seen in the emblems of some Arab states, and associated with Arab nationalism.

النصر لنا
٢٥ LS. 25
جنيهاً
جمهوريه السودان الديمقراطيه
١٣٩٨ - ١٩٧٨

Reverse

African map within a double circle surrounded by two olive branches ended by an abbreviation in French (OUA) on the left and English (OAU) on the right, the inscription "SUMMIT MEETING KHARTOUM" above and "Summit of Organization of African Unity, Khartum" below.

SUMMIT MEETING KHARTOUM
OUA OAU
مؤتمر القمة الأفريقي بالخرطوم

Edge

25 Pounds

Democratic Republic
KM# 78 Schön# 19 Fr# 4
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.917
Weight 8.25 g
Diameter 22 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Alt # KM# PS7

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