| Coin | Silver Two Ounces 2023 African Ounce - Gorilla |
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The Rwandan Franc was introduced as the currency of Rwanda in 1964. Apart from its regular circulating coinage, the country has also authorised some foreign mints to issue coins under its jurisdiction, which come in a variety of sizes - including in the large two ounces (2oz) of silver format, denominated usually as 50 Francs. Like any bullion coin though, their actual value is unrelated to the face value, and is based primarily on the metal content and the spot price of that metal on the commodities markets.
This coin is part of the African Ounce series which features a new animal on the reverse every year, and marks the 15th anniversary of the series by featuring the original Gorilla design, first issued in 2008. It is also the first 2oz silver coin in the series.
Gorillas are herbivorous, predominantly ground-dwelling great apes that inhabit the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of humans, from 95 to 99% depending on what is included, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after chimpanzees and bonobos.
Gorillas are the largest living primates, reaching heights between 1.25 and 1.8 metres, weights between 100 and 270 kg, and arm spans up to 2.6 metres, depending on species and sex. They tend to live in troops, with the leader being called a silverback. The Eastern gorilla is distinguished from the Western by darker fur colour and some other minor morphological differences. Gorillas tend to live 35 - 40 years in the wild. |
| Mint | B. H. Mayer |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
500
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| Obverse | |
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Within a plain rim, the obverse of the coin features the Coat of Arms of Rwanda. At its centre is a traditional basket, surrounded by the central tribal devices: a stem of sorghum on the left, and a branch of a coffee tree on the right, surmounted on a cog wheel with the sun with its rays above. These are protected by two typical Rwandan shields, one on the right and one on the left. The design is encircled by a rope, tied below in a square knot.
On a ribbon above, REPUBULIKA Y'U RWANDA (Republic of Rwanda); on a ribbon below, the motto UBUMWE · UMURIMO · GUKUNDA IGIHUGU (Unity, Work, Patriotism in Kinyarwanda - the official Rwandan language).
Around above, the name of the issuing authority: BANKI NKURU Y'U RWANDA (National Bank of Rwanda; in French: Banque Nationale du Rwanda; abbreviated as BNR).
Around below, the face value AMAFARANGA 50 MIRONGO ITANU (50 FRW - fifty Rwandan Francs). |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design depicts a large relief map of Africa, partly interrupting the rim.
Below left, a family of African gorillas: father, mother and baby. In a circle above them, a privy mark: 15th Anniv. (fifteenth anniversary). At centre, a Pf privy mark (?).
Around left, the name of the coin series: AFRICAN OUNCE.
Around above right, the anniversary dates 2008 - 2023. Around below right, facing outward, the precious metal content: 2 oz FINE SILVER 999 (two troy ounces of 99.9% silver). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
AFRICAN OUNCE 2008 - 2023 2 oz FINE SILVER 999 15th Anniv. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: in individual plastic packaging, with a Certificate of Authenticity branded with BNR (National Bank of Rwanda). Multiples of ten come in sheets.
The coin is the same diameter as the one ounce, but is double the thickness (a "piedfort"), and is also denominated as 50 Francs. |
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| See also |
Coins in the African Ounce series include:
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Gorilla, 2008
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Elephant, 2009
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Lion, 2010
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Zebra, 2011
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Rhino, 2012
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Cheetah, 2013
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Impala, 2014
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Cape Buffalo, 2015
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Meerkat, 2016
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Hippopotamus, 2017
- 1 oz Gold, African Ounce - Giraffe, 2018
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Giraffe, 2018
- 1 oz Gold, African Ounce - Shoebill Stork, 2019
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Shoebill Stork, 2019
- 1 oz Gold, African Ounce - Bushbaby (Galago), 2020
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Bushbaby (Galago), 2020
- 1 oz Gold, African Ounce - Okapi, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Okapi, 2021
- 1 oz Platinum, African Ounce - Pelican, 2022
- 1 oz Gold, African Ounce - Pelican, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Pelican, 2022
- 1 oz Platinum, African Ounce - Nile Crocodile, 2023
- 1 oz Gold, African Ounce - Nile Crocodile, 2023
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Nile Crocodile, 2023
- 1 oz Platinum, African Ounce - Gorilla (15th anniversary edition), 2023
- 1 oz Gold, African Ounce - Gorilla (15th anniversary edition), 2023
- 2 oz Silver, African Ounce - Gorilla (15th anniversary edition), 2023
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Gorilla (15th anniversary edition), 2023
- 1 oz Platinum, African Ounce - Leopard, 2024
- 1 oz Gold, African Ounce - Leopard, 2024
- 2 oz Silver, African Ounce - Leopard, 2024
- 1 oz Silver, African Ounce - Leopard, 2024
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