Obverse. Photo © Coinsberg.com
  • 50 Francs 2018, Djibouti, Tour de France, Polka Dot Jersey
  • 50 Francs 2018, Djibouti, Tour de France, Polka Dot Jersey
Description

The Tour de France is an annual men's multiple stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists of 21 day-long stages over the course of 23 days.

The race was first organized in 1903 to increase sales for the newspaper L'Auto. The race has been held annually since its first edition in 1903 except when it was stopped for the two World Wars. Traditionally, the race is held primarily in the month of July. While the route changes each year, the format of the race stays the same with the appearance of time trials, the passage through the mountain chains of the Pyrenees and the Alps, and the finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Obverse

Depicts the national arms within the wreath, country name in French above and denomination between the metal, purity and weight below.

Djibouti adopted its national emblem upon gaining independence from France on June 27, 1977. The emblem features laurel branches on the sides and encloses a vertical spear with a shield in front. Below the shield, two hands holding large machetes represent the nation's main ethnic groups, the Afar and the Issa. At the top of the spear is a red star, symbolizing unity between the Issa and Afar peoples.

REPUBLIQUE DE DJIBOUTI
Ag 925 •50 FRANCS• 12 g

Reverse

Depicts four cyclists riding on a road, one of them adorned in a polka dot jersey, with the tour's logo positioned above them. The French text is displayed above, and the year of the issue is shown below.

The mountains classification is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1933. It is given to the rider that gains the most points for reaching mountain summits first. The leader of the classification is named the King of the Mountains, and since 1975 wears the polka dot jersey (French: maillot à pois rouges), a white jersey with red polka dots.

MAILLOT À POIS ROUGES
le
Tour
de
france
2018

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 12 g
Diameter 38.61 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin

Related coins

Green Jersey

Tour de France

Silver, 12 g, ⌀ 38.61 mm
Track Map

Tour de France

Silver, 31.1 g, ⌀ 38.61 mm