Description

Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello. Founded in 1939 by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), the company built its first car in 1940, adopted its current name in 1945, and began to produce its current line of road cars in 1947. Ferrari became a public company in 1960, and from 1963 to 2014 it was a subsidiary of Fiat S.p.A. It was spun off from Fiat's successor entity, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, in 2016. The company currently offers a large model range which includes several supercars, grand tourers, and one SUV. Many early Ferraris, dating to the 1950s and 1960s, count among the most expensive cars ever sold at auction.

Ferrari is one of the world's strongest brands, and it maintains a brand image built around racing heritage, luxury, and exclusivity. As of May 2023, Ferrari is also one of the largest car manufacturers by market capitalisation, with a value of approximately US$85.5 billion.

Obverse

Depicts an official emblem of the Laurent Kabila regime: a mature male lion standing to the left amid the grass, symbolizing strength and authority. Above the lion is the country’s name in French, and the denomination of the issue is placed below. Date appears in the middle.

Kabila’s regime, which began in 1997 after he overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko, was characterized by efforts to rebuild the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) after decades of dictatorship. His government sought to restore national sovereignty, but faced internal conflict and external pressures, particularly during the Second Congo War.

REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO
2004
20 Francs

Reverse

Depicts the logo of Ferrari surrounded by squares as in the flag of Formula One.

The iconic Ferrari logo, featuring the prancing horse, holds deep connections to Italian culture and Enzo Ferrari’s personal story. The prancing horse, or Cavallino Rampante, was originally the emblem of World War I Italian fighter ace Count Francesco Baracca, who displayed it on his plane. After his death, Baracca’s parents suggested that Enzo Ferrari adopt the symbol for good luck. Ferrari did so, adding a vibrant canary yellow background to represent his hometown of Modena. The letters "S" and "F" on the logo stand for Scuderia Ferrari, Ferrari’s racing team. First appearing on Alfa Romeo race cars in the 1930s, the emblem became Ferrari’s official logo in 1947, with the Italian tricolor on top, symbolizing national pride, luxury, and speed.

S F

Edge

20 Francs

Ferrari

KM# 144
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.999
Weight 1.13 g
Diameter 13.92 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Mayer Mint GmbH Germany

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