FRANC: COIN OF COMOROS
5 francs, 1992: Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros
Coin of the FAO series (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Coins of this series were minted in many countries around the world (mostly during the second half of the 20th century).
BANQUE CENTRALE DES COMORES: CENTRAL BANK OF COMOROS.
5 FRANCS.
Local island landscape (central element — coconut palms).
CONFÉRENCE MONDIALE SUR LES PÊCHES: WORLD FISHERIES CONFERENCE.
بنك يا كمور: Bank of the Comoros.
West Indian Ocean coelacanth (Latimeria) — one of the few living fossil animals. Two species of latimeria are now known: Latimeria chalumnae (which lives off the east and south coasts of Africa; firstly discovered in 1938) and Latimeria menadoensis (discovered and described during 1997-1999 off the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia).
The logo of the World Fisheries Conference is depicted in a rectangular field under the latimeria. Around it — the signs of the French Mint (Monnaie de Paris, France): a cornucopia and a dolphin.
Coin design: Lucien Georges Bazor and A.G.M.M. (Atelier de Gravure des Monnaies et Médailles).
Mintage: 500.000.
This coin was minted twice: the main issue — 1984, the additional — 1992.
- Aluminium: 31 mm - 3.85 g
- Reference price: 3$
COIN FRANC — WHERE & WHEN (coins catalog: by names & emitents)
- COMOROS (1891-…): FRENCH PROTECTORATE OF THE COMOROS (1891) + STATE OF COMOROS (1964-1975) + FEDERAL ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF COMOROS (1984) + UNION OF THE COMOROS (2001-…): franc = 100 centimes (without regular coins — only tokens); franc = 100 santīmāt (in 19th century)
Franc is one of the most common coin names of all times and peoples (along with dollars, cents, centavos, centimes...).
First of all, the coin with the denomination "franc" should be considered French (it was in France it appeared in the 14th century; the issue was carried out until 2001 inclusive, until it was replaced by the euro). The francs are also characteristic of the monetary systems of neighboring countries and numerous dependent territories of France around the world.
In total, analyzing numismatic catalogs, you can find up to 50 different issuers of franc coins (many are no longer to be found on the political map of the world):
- France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Cambodia, French Equatorial Africa, Equatorial African States, Central African States, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Congo Republic, Central African Republic, Chad, French West Africa, West African States, Togo, Benin, Dahomey, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Niger, Senegal, Mali, Algeria, Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo Democratic Republic, Rwanda-Burundi, Rwanda, Burundi, Guinea, French Somaliland, French Afars and Issas, Djibouti, Katanga, Madagascar, Morocco, Reunion, Tunisia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Danish West Indies, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, French Oceania, French Polynesia...
In the German-speaking lands of Europe, the denomination of the francs was indicated as frank (also known about the franken of Saarland).
Also in numismatics is known denomination frang ar ("golden franc" of Albania).
As for the origin of the name of the franc coin, there are no reliable facts in this regard — today there are only hypotheses.
According to one of them, the coin was named after the legend that was placed on the first coins of this type (14th century) — Latin "Francorum Rex" ("King of the Franks").
On the other hand, the coin owes its name to the French word "franc" meaning "free" (the prototype coin was minted in honor of the release of King John II of France /John the Good/ from English captivity).
