Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 10 Francs 1981-2023, KM# 10, West African States, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • 10 Francs 1981-2023, KM# 10, West African States, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • 10 Francs 1981-2023, KM# 10, West African States, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Reverse mint and privy marks
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.

Mint and privy marks either on obverse or reverse.

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

Privy marks of the General Engraver of the Paris Mint:
• 1999–2000: Bee (Pierre Rodier)
• 2001–2002: Horseshoe (Gérard Buquoy)
• 2003: Heart with the initials of the mint master (Serge Levet)
• 2004–2010: Hunting horn with a wave and a fish (Hubert Larivière)
• 2011–2020: Pentagon with letters AG, MP and YS (Yves Sampo)
• 2021–present: Two nested squares superimposed on a rhinoceros head (Joaquin Jimenez)

Obverse

Two women and a child at water pump filling bowls and jars in front of trees at the horizon.

Engraver: Atelier de Gravure des Monnaies et Médailles (A.G.M.M., Laboratory of engraving of coins and medals)

2009

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.

Engraver: Gabriel Bernard Lucien Bazor

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

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Aluminium Bronze
Weight 4 g
Diameter 23.5 mm
Thickness 1.57 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Paris Mint (A)

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