Cameroon 50-FRANCS (KM13)¶
-
Obverse GIANT ELAND
-
Reverse Denomination
- Composition
- Copper-Nickel
- Country
- Cameroon
- Approx. Size
- 31mm
- Area
- Africa
- Animal Class
- Mammals
- Species
- Giant Eland
- KM#
- 13
A male Giant Eland can weigh up to 1,000 kg and their huge spiral horns can extend beyond 120 cm. They hang out in sparse forest during the heat of the day, and feed on the savannah during the morning and evening hours. This was the first coin Cameroon issued as an independent republic, which is celebrated by the full date on the obverse.
Cameroon¶
- Area
- Africa
Cameroon is a relatively stable agriculture-based country on the west side of Africa. European contact was first made by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The next three hundred years saw continuous trading from Dutch, English, and Spanish visitors. By the 1870s, the German Empire was moving permanent settlers into the area. German domination was ended after World War II when the League of Nations split Cameroon between the British and the French. The UN took over the show in 1946, and in 1960 French Cameroon became an indepdendent republic. One year later, the southern part of British Cameroon voted for unification with the Republic of Cameroon. Cameroon has one of the best education systems in Africa, and close to a 80% literacy rate.
