DJIBOUTI

A Coin from Djibouti - the 1 Franc of 1996

Djibouti 1 Franc 1996
Djibouti 1 Franc 1996 (scaled to approximately 300dpi)

First a look at the designs on this 1 Franc coin...

OBVERSE - the coat of arms of Djibouti, surrounded by the legend "REPUBLIQUE DE DJIBOUTI" (French for "REPUBLIC OF DJIBOUTI") and the date ("1996") below. The coat of arms comprises a shield and a lance above which there is a five-pointed star; to each side of this there is a hand holding a traditional dagger; enclosing all of this is a wreath of laurel (all leaves depicted in outline).

REVERSE - centrally - the flora and fauna of the region - the portrait of a Hirola (an endangered species also known as Hunter's Antelope) in front of a voyager palm (almost like a spray of feathers), then to each of lower-left and lower-right a fish (species unknown, each accompanied by what seems to be a shell) - there seems to be a little asymmetry with the arrangement of these two fish. In the main space remaining in the central area of the coin the denomination is shown by "1" and "F" representing "1 Franc". The main legend surrounds all of this central design; it is Djibouti's motto "UNITE EGALITE PAIX" (French for "UNITY, EQUALITY, PEACE"). Finally, below the portrait of the central design, there are the privy marks of the French Mint (Pessac) as in used in 1996 - these are a cornucopia (to the left) for the mint and a bee (to the right) for the Engraver General who was Pierre Rodier.

The Djiboutian coat of arms as seen on the obverse of the 1 Franc 1996 has appeared on all of the country's circulation coins, the first of which were dated "1977". Upon independence in 1977 the country, at the time known as "French Afars and Issas", changed its name to Djibouti; this was already the name of the country's capital city. The French had founded the city of Djibouti in the late 19th century.

The reverse design is similar to those used for the Djibouti 2 Francs (commencing 1977) and 5 Francs (commencing 1977). Similar reverse designs were previously used on the 1, 2 and 5 Francs of "French Afars and Issas", the name that Djibouti had had from 1967 to 1977, whilst a French Overseas Territory. On those coins the legend around the Hirola, voyager palm etc.. is "TERRITOIRE FRANÇAISE DES AFARS ET DES ISSAS". This past name for Djibouti is explained by the fact that the country's two main ethnic groups are the Afar and the Issa. In fact the hand and dagger in the Djibouti coat of arms are one each as representing the Afars and the Issas.

Going back further, similar reverse designs featuring the Hirola, voyager palm etc.. were used on the 1, 2 and 5 Francs coins of French Somaliland. For these types the legend around the motifs central to the reverse was "COTE FRANÇAISE DES SOMALIS". The first of these coins were dated 1948, with just a few other dates, the last of which was 1965. French Somaliland had become French Overseas Territory in 1946.

Not only the Djibouti 1 Franc 1996 as illustrated but, in fact, all of the coins of 1, 2 and 5 Francs as mentioned above are made from Aluminium and the sizes (mass and diameter) were constant for each denomination. It would seem the 1996 is the last circulation date for the Djibouti 1 Franc.

The very latest coin from Djibouti with the country's coat of arms is the bi-metallic 250 Francs with date "2012". These were introduced around April 2013 and are only know with the date "2012" upto now.


Djibouti 250 Francs 2012
Djibouti 250 Francs 2012 (scaled to approximately 300dpi)


A related link....   Patrick Raffin's site...  http://ultramarines.info/    more particularly - this page from his site...  http://ultramarines.info/Djibouti/Djibouti.html


Back to AFRICA main page.



Page started with "A Coin from Djibouti - the 1 Franc of 1996" at Dec-2013.