| Coin | Silver Ounce 2022 Pioneer Plaque |
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The Republic of Chad 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.
Chad has authorised some foreign mints to strike coins under its issuing authority for collector's purposes, or as bullion. 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 of silver format, such as this coin.
Space probe Pioneer 10 - the first man-made object that left our solar system - began its journey on 3 March 1972. It carries a gold-anodised aluminium plaque in case the spacecraft is ever found by intelligent life-forms from another planetary system, with a message to them. The Pioneer plaque features figures of a human male and female along with symbols designed to provide information about the origin of the spacecraft.
This bullion coin celebrates the 50th anniversary of this "Message from Earth". |
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| Obverse | |
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Within a hexagon, the obverse of the coin features part of the design of the Pioneer plaque.
In a small circle on the right is the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Chad. Around above in that circle, the inscription in English: REPUBLIC OF CHAD; around below, the date of issue 2022. Below the circle, on three lines the inscription MESSAGE FROM EARTH.
Diagonally above right, the precious metal content: 1 OZ FINE SILVER 9999 (one troy ounce of 99.99% silver). Diagonally below left, the anniversary dates 1972 - 2022. |
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| Reverse | |
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Within a hexagon, the reverse design depicts part of the Pioneer plaque, showing the nude figures of a man and woman in front of the spacecraft, the man with his right hand raised in greeting.
Above the figures, the inscription 50 YEARS.
Diagonally above right, PIONEER PLAQUE.
Diagonally below left, the face value CFA 5000 (five thousand Central African CFA Francs). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
PIONEER PLAQUE 50 YEARS CFA 5000 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Issue price: 39.00 EUR
Mintage of these coins seems to be "on demand". The company announces on its web site the mintage limit of the coin, and the number of currently minted coins.
As of 3 March 2023, there were 3,081 minted coins of this kind.
As of 15 July 2023, there were 3,266 minted coins of this kind.
Minted as of 3 October 2023: 3,291 pieces. |
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