GABONESE REPUBLIC
COMMEMORATING INDEPENDENCE, AUGUST 17, 1960
RARE GOLD ONE-HUNDRED FRANC COIN CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 65 ULTRA CAMEO
OBV: HEAD OF PRESIDENT LÉON M'BA RIGHT; DATE BELOW.
REV: NATIONAL ARMS WITH SUPPORTERS; DENOMINATION BENEATH.
KM # 4
GABON WAS FIRST INHABITED BY PYGMY TRIBES WHO WERE SUPPLANTED BY BANTU POPULATIONS. IN THE 15th CENTURY, THE REGION WAS CLAIMED BY THE PORTUGESE AND NAMED GABAÔ (THE PORTUGUESE WORD FOR "CLOAK" WHICH AN ESTUARY NEAR THEIR LANDING SITE RESEMBLED IN SHAPE).
IN 1875, FRANCE ESTABLISHED A COLONY, AND OFFICIALLY OCCUPIED GABON TEN YEARS LATER.
IN 1960, GABON WAS GRANTED INDEPENDENCE FROM THE FEDERATION OF FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA. ITS FIRST PRESIDENT, LÉON M'BA (DEPICTED ON THE OBVERSE OF THIS COIN), WAS OFFICIALLY ELECTED IN 1961. FRENCH LOGGING CONCERNS CONTRIBUTED LARGE SUMS TO HIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN ORDER TO PROTECT FRENCH INTERESTS IN THE COUNTRY.
M'BA INCREASED THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY AND SUPPRESSED THE PRESS, OPPOSING POLITICAL PARTIES, PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS AND FREE EXPRESSION. THE DICTATOR DID PURSUE FRENCH INTERESTS, AND AFTER HE DISBANDED THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND WAS OUSTED BY A COUP IN 1964, THE FRENCH THANKED HIM FOR HIS SUPPORT BY SENDING IN PARATROOPERS AND RESTORING HIM TO POWER WITHIN 24 HOURS.
CONTAINS 32 GRAMS OF .900 FINE GOLD (.926 OZ AGW)
35 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 500 MINTED!
