2007 GOLD ESSAI PATTERN BENIN 25,000 FRANCS WILDLIFE PROTECTION BONGO NGC MINT STATE 69 ONLY 300 MINTED

REPUBLIC OF BENIN

WILDLIFE PROTECTION SERIES - THE BONGO

GOLD 25,000 FRANCS ESSAI PATTERN COIN

CERTIFIED BY NGC MINT STATE 69

ONLY 300 MINTED!

OBV: NATIONAL ARMS FLANKED BY FIVE-POINTED STARS, WORD “ESSAI” ABOVE ARMS; DATE BENEATH.

REV: BONGO RIGHT; DENOMINATION LOWER RIGHT.

THE BONGO (TRAGELAPHUS EURYCERUS) IS A MOSTLY NOCTURNAL FOREST ANTELOPE, AND ONE OF THE LARGEST OF ITS SPECIES. IT HAS LONG SPIRALLED HORNS, A STRIKING REDDISH-BROWN COAT WITH BLACK AND WHITE MARKINGS AND WHITE-YELLOW STRIPES. THE WESTERN OR LOWLAND BONGO FACES AN ONGOING POPULATION DECLINE AND IS CONSIDERED NEAR THREATENED ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS SCALE. THE EASTERN OR MOUNTAIN BONGO OF KENYA IS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED, WITH MORE SPECIMENS IN CAPTIVITY THAN IN NATURE. POACHING AND HUMAN ENCROACHMENT ON THEIR HABITAT IS RESPONSIBLE AND IS A CONTINUING THREAT TO THE ENDANGERMENT OF THIS SPECIES.

CONTAINS 8.53 GRAMS OF 9167 FINE GOLD

0.2514 OZ AGW

27 MM IN DIAMETER

ONLY 300 MINTED!