Central Africa: unadopted designs of 1958

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These trial designs were all produced by the Paris Mint in 1958. All the pieces are made of aluminium-bronze and have a diameter of 27 mm.

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40 francs. Designs by Raymond Joly. Reverse: palm trees, huts and an African statuette.

Image courtesy of cgb.fr.

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40 francs. Designs by Raymond Corbin. Obverse: African mask.

Image courtesy of cgb.fr.

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40 francs. Designs by Maurice Delannoy. Obverse: African mask.

Image courtesy of cgb.fr.

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40 francs. Designs by André Galtie. Obverse: African mask.

Image courtesy of cgb.fr.

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40 francs. Designs by George Lay. Obverse: Buffalo head.  Reverse: Palm leaves.

Image courtesy of cgb.fr.

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40 francs. Designs by Robert Cochet. Obverse: Lion head.

Image courtesy of cgb.fr.

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Most excellent collection. Out of the ordinary, dazzling variety of styles. The lion is a bit of a cliché now, perhaps not in 1958, the others so artful, you'd wish the designs had at least been used for a series of medals.

Fun detail, apparently Joly wasn't chief engraver yet. That's not his owl mark but the wing of Lucien Bazor. The designs must date before october 1958, when Joly took over.

Peter