Gold Ounce 2023 Viking Age - Justice, Coin from Cameroon - detailed information

The Republic of Cameroon uses the Central African CFA Franc as its currency; it is the common currency of six independent states in central Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The CFA Franc has both common and national issues. All common circulating coins are issued under the authority of CEMAC ("Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale" - Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa) and have no issuing country. Separately, each member country can strike coins bearing its national symbols; these coins are legal tender in the other members of the bloc too.

Cameroon has authorised some foreign mints to strike coins under its issuing authority for investment or for collector's purposes. These are usually dedicated to historical or general popular culture themes not related to the country itself. Many of them are in standard bullion sizes, such as the internationally popular one troy ounce (1oz) of gold.

This coin is the third issue in the ten-coin gold Viking Age series by Leipziger Precious Metals Factory (LEV), a division of Geiger Edelmetalle, and is dedicated to Justice.

The Viking Age series commemorates 10 topics that embody the ideas and accomplishments of the Norseman, also known as Vikings. From approximately 793 AD through 1066 AD, Vikings conquered lands and undertook an incredible level of trade from Europe to as far as North America.

The Age of the Vikings marks the end of the prehistoric period in Norway. As there are no written records, what is known about this period is largely based on archaeological finds. In addition, the sagas shed some light on this age. Although they were not written down until later, the sagas are based on oral tales that were passed down from one generation to another.

Many scholars consider the capture of the monastery of Lindisfarne, off the coast of north-east England, in 793 as the beginning of the Viking Age. In some parts of western and south-western Europe, the Vikings are still regarded as cruel bandits who brought chaos to their victims with fire and sword.

This is only partly true. The Vikings also came with peaceful intentions, trading and colonising. Norwegian Vikings settled in Orkney, Shetland, the Hebrides and the Isle of Man. The northern Scottish mainland and Ireland also became their home, and Dublin - founded by the Vikings in 840 - was under Norse rule until 1171. In Iceland and Greenland, the Norwegian Vikings found uninhabited land. They settled there and formed communities. Today's Iceland is a direct result of the Vikings' colonisation.