REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
ONLY 1,650 MINTED
DICTATORSHIP OF PRESIDENT FRANCISCO MACÍAS NGUEMA (1968-1979)
CENTENARY OF THE CITY OF ROME AS CAPITAL OF ITALY (1870-1970)
GOLD SEVEN-HUNDRED AND FIFTY PESETAS
CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 66 ULTRA CAMEO
OBV: NATIONAL ARMS ABOVE CROSSED ELEPHANT TUSKS; DENOMINATION BENEATH.
REV: VIEW OF THE THREE REMAINING CORINTHIAN COLUMNS FROM THE RUINS OF THE TEMPLE OF VESPASIAN AND TITUS IN THE ROMAN FORUM WITH A DEPICTION OF THE RUINS OF THE FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATRE (COLISSEUM) BEHIND; CENTENARY DATES IN SURROUNDING LEGEND.
KM # 27
THE TWO ICONIC SYMBOLS OF ANCIENT ROME "THE ETERNAL CITY" PICTURED ON THE REVERSE OF THIS COIN ARE THE TEMPLE OF VESPASIAN AND TITUS, BUILT AT THE WEST END OF THE ROMAN FORUM, AND THE FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATER OR COLISSEUM, BUILT AT THE CENTER OF THE CITY EAST OF THE FORUM. THE TEMPLE WAS BUILT BY ORDER OF THE EMPEROR TITUS IN 79AD AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER THE EMPEROR VESPASIAN. IT WAS COMPLETED BY TITUS' BROTHER THE EMPEROR DOMITIAN AROUND 80AD. THE COLISEUM (SO-CALLED FROM THE 8th CENTURY ON BECAUSE OF A COLLOSAL STATUE OF NERO THAT STOOD NEARBY) WAS STARTED BY ORDER OF VESPASIAN AND COMPLETED UNDER TITUS. IT WAS THE LARGEST AMPHITHEATER IN ANCIENT ROME, AN ENGINEERING MARVEL, CAPABLE OF SEATING 50,000 PEOPLE, IT WAS USED FOR GLADIATORIAL CONTESTS, PUBLIC SPECTACLES, EXECUTIONS AND OTHER PUBLIC BLOODSPORT DISPLAYS THE ANCIENT ROMANS WERE SO FOND OF.
THE CITY OF ROME BECAME THE CAPITAL OF THE KINGDOM OF ITALY AFTER ITALIAN REUNIFICATION IN 1870. IT HAS REMAINED THE CAPITAL OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC.
THIS COIN WAS MINTED UNDER THE REGIME OF PRESIDENT FRANCISCO MACÍAS NGUEMA (b. 1924, d. 1979). NGUEMA WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA. HE WAS THE SON OF A WITCH DOCTOR THAT ROSE UP THROUGH THE SPANISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. HE WAS ELECTED IN 1968 AS PRESIDENT OF THE NEWLY INDEPENDENT COUNTRY. THE YEAR THIS COIN WAS STRUCK, HE CREATED A SINGLE PARTY STATE AND MADE HIMSELF "PRESIDENT FOR LIFE" IN 1972. UNDER HIS BRUTAL RULE THE COUNTRY BECAME KNOWN AS "THE DACHAU OF AFRICA". HE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE ENTIRE VILLAGES AND FAMILIES EXECUTED, AND OVER A THIRD OF THE POPULATION ACTUALLY FLED TO ESCAPE HIS RULE. HE BANNED PRIVATE EDUCATION AND MADE HIMSELF "GRAND MASTER OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE". HE BANNED FISHING, BURNED THE COUNTRY'S BOATS AND MINED THE ONLY ROAD OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO KEEP HIS PEOPLE FROM FLEEING. HIS RELATIVES RAN THE MILITARY AND POLICE, HE WAS THE CENTER OF A CULT OF PERSONALITY WHERE THE MEMBERS USED LARGE AMOUNTS OF CANNABIS AND HALUCINOGENS. HE CHANGED HIS NAME TO MASIE NGUEMA BIYONGO NGUE NDONG IN 1976. DURING HIS RULE HE HAD NO DEVELOPMENT PLAN OR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, KILLED THE GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK AND STOLE WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE TREASURY, TAKING IT BACK TO HIS HOUSE IN A RURAL VILLAGE.
THE PICTURE OF THE COLISSEUM, THE PLACE OF SPECTACLE AND ROMAN BLOODSPORTS ON THE REVERSE OF THIS COIN IS REMINISCENT OF AN INCIDENT FROM NGUEMA'S HOMICIDAL REIGN. AT CHRISTMAS IN 1975, HE HAD 150 OF HIS OPPONENTS TAKEN TO MALABO FOOTBALL STADIUM, WHERE HIS SOLDIERS, ALL DRESSED UP LIKE SANTA CLAUS, SHOT THEM ALL IN A MASS EXECUTION WHILE THE STADIUM SPEAKERS PLAYED "THOSE WERE THE DAYS".
CONTAINS 10.57 GRAMS OF .900 FINE GOLD (.3058 OZ AGW)
29 MM IN DIAMETER
