Comoros 5-FRANCS (KM15)¶
-
Obverse COELACANTH
-
Reverse Denomination
- Composition
- Aluminum
- Country
- Comoros
- Approx. Size
- 31mm
- Area
- Africa
- Animal Class
- Fish
- Species
- Coelacanth
- KM#
- 15
This is the first Comoros coin issued after independence. It was issued in 1984 and 1992 only, and celebrates the World Fisheries Conference. The Coelacanth is the oldest species of fish known. It was thought to have been extinct since the end of the Cretaceous period, about 65 million years ago, but one turned up in 1938. They are now known to exist in a few areas around Africa, including Comoros. The Coelacanth is an endangered species.
Comoros¶
- Area
- Africa
Comoros is a union of three volcanic islands in the Indian Ocean just north of Madagascar. The name means "island of small moon" and this is pictured on the flag. The fourth star on the flag probably represents the island of Mayotte, who choose to stay with France rather than join the other three islands in independence in 1975. In 1997, two of the three islands -- Anjounan and Moheli -- declared their independence from Comoros, leaving only the main island of Grande Comore. The government tried and failed to force the two islands back into the fold, resulting in a deal brokered by the African Union to patch things up. Now, each island has its own mini-government, and a main union government to oversee it all. Implementation of the new plan started in early 2005. Hopefully they can work together, because the country needs it: Comoros is one of the poorest countries in the world and has few natural resources, a lousy education system, and not much else except a rapidly expanding population. If the political situation becomes less "fluid" the government can work on their plan to make Comoros a nice place to visit.
