Cameroon 1-FRANC (KM5)¶
-
Obverse ROOSTER
-
Reverse Cross of Lorraine
- Composition
- Bronze
- Country
- Cameroon
- Approx. Size
- 25.5mm
- Area
- Africa
- Animal Class
- Birds
- Species
- Rooster
- KM#
- 5
This splendid Gallic Rooster appeared one year only (1943) on this Cameroon 1-franc coin. Later that year, the design was changed slightly with "Libre" being added to the legend (KM#7). The reverse features the Cross of Lorraine, originally the symbol of Joan of Arc, and adopted by the Free French Forces during WWII.
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.
