REPUBLIC OF CHAD
1970 ISSUE COMMEMORATING THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
THIS ISSUE ALSO HONORS FRENCH GENERAL LECLERC
GOLD FIVE-THOUSAND FRANCS CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
OBV: NATIONAL ARMS LEFT PALM TREES CENTER, CATHEDRAL FACADE UPPER RIGHT, AND ARC De TRIOMPHE LOWER RIGHT WITH STYLIZED WAVES BESIDE; DENOMINATION AT BOTTOM.
REV: 3/4 FACING PORTRAIT BUST OF GENERAL Le CLERC; DATE Le CLERC's COMMAND OF FREE FRENCH FORCES IN CHAD (1941) BELOW FLANKED BY 8 DOTS AROUND RIM; MINT PRIVY MARK ABOVE CHAINS ON RIGHT.
KM # 10
AFTER WWII CHAD WAS GRANTED THE STATUS OF AN OVERSEAS TERRITORY BY FRANCE, THE COUNTRY WAS ALLOWED TO ELECT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, AND FORM ITS OWN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. FULL INDEPENDENCE WAS GRANTED ON AUGUST 11, 1960. ITS FIRST PRESIDENT, FRAÇOIS TOMBALBAYE CREATED A ONE PARTY SYSTEM AND ESTABLISHED AUTOCRATIC RULE. HIS INSENSITIVE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT LED TO CIVIL WAR BY THE MUSLIM POPULATION. DURING THE COURSE OF HIS RULE, TOMBALBAYE ARRESTED MILITARY OFFICERS INCLUDING THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR SUSPICION OF STAGING A COUP. HIS UNDERMINING OF THE MILITARY, AND THEIR PERVASIVE OPINION OF HIS MISHANDLING OF THE CIVIL WAR, CULMINATED IN HIS DEATH DURING A BLOODY BATTLE DURING A COUP BY THE MILITARY IN 1975.
GENERAL PHILIPPE LECLERC de HAUTECLOCQUE (b. 1902; d.1947) JOINED THE FRENCH FREE FORCES IN LONDON AFTER THE FALL OF FRANCE IN 1940. WHEN GENERAL CHARLES de GAULLE MET HIM, HE PROMOTED LECLERC TO MAJOR AND SENT HIM TO AFRICA TO BE GOVERNOR OF CAMEROON AND FRENCH EQUITORIAL AFRICA. LECLERC'S COLUMN OF MEN ATTACKED AXIS FORCES FROM CHAD, THEN MARCHED ACROSS WEST AFRICA TO ATTACK THE AXIS IN TUNISIA. HE LATER LANDED WITH ALLIED FORCES IN NORMANDY AND HELPED IN THE LIBERATION OF PARIS. AFTER THE WAR IN EUROPE HAD BEEN WON, HE REPRESENTED FRANCE AS COMMANDER OF THE FRENCH FAR EAST EXPEDITIONARY CORPS AT THE SURRENDER OF THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN. AFTER WWII HE COMMANDED THE EXPEDITIONARY CORPS IN VIETNAM, AND DIED IN AN AIRPLANE ACCIDENT IN ALGERIA IN 1947. HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY PROMOTED TO MARSHAL OF FRANCE IN 1952.
CONTAINS 17.5 GRAMS OF .900 FINE GOLD (.5064 OZ AGW)
33 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 4,000 ORIGINALLY MINTED, VERY FEW SURVIVE TODAY!
ENGRAVER G. SIMON
MINTED AT NUMISMATIC ITALIANO, AREZZO, ITALY
