Sierra Leone 500 Leones (2004), KM# 296

Started by Bimat, October 20, 2012, 08:48:10 AM

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Bimat

Another very welcome addition to my African collection. :) How often do you see a ten sided bimetallic coin? Was this particular coin intended for circulation, does anyone know? Reverse of the coin shows portrait of Kai Londo. Which building is depicted on the obverse?

Sierra Leone, 500 Leones (2004), KM# 296, 24mm, 7.2 grams, Plain Edge, Bimetallic.



Aditya
It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J. K. Rowling.

paisepagal

well, there are the croatian 25 kuna coins...here's the only one i have at the moment. I happen to be putting these to album, so took a quick pic of this multisided bimetal

<k>

Quote from: Bimat on October 20, 2012, 08:48:10 AM
Which building is depicted on the obverse?

Gerhard says it's the Parliament building in Freetown.  In fact it looks more like the State House.

Wikipedia:

The State House is the official workplace of the President of Sierra Leone. The building is home to the official office of the President of Sierra Leone. Official receptions, meetings with visiting foreign heads of state and international delegations are held at the State House. The State House is located at State Avenue, Tower Hill, in central Freetown.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

Figleaf

It's rare to find Gerhard making a mistake. Did you tell him? I am sure he would appreciate your help.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

<k>

Quote from: Figleaf on October 20, 2012, 05:13:13 PM
It's rare to find Gerhard making a mistake.
That's for sure! He's very meticulous about detail.

QuoteDid you tell him? I am sure he would appreciate your help.
I had never considered the subject of this design until Aditya mentioned it. I'll send Gerhard a link to this topic.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

Bimat

Thank you <k>! :)

So, is this a commemorative coin? If yes, then what does it commemorate? Or a one year type and not a commemorative?

Aditya
It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J. K. Rowling.

<k>

Sierra Leone seems to have gone without its own coinage for some years now, so I suspect the coin is commemorative and probably bimetallic to appeal to world collectors. The obverse depicts Kai Londo, the 19th century King of the Kissi people, who helped the British build Freetown.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

Bimat

So do you mean it commemorates Kai Londo? He was born in 1845 and died in 1896. So in 2004, it was his 159th birth anniversary or 108th anniversary of his death. Aren't these strange occasions to commemorate an event? ???

Aditya
It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J. K. Rowling.

<k>

Well, they wanted to sell a coin, and at least it's a national hero and an attractive design.  ;)
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

Bimat

Quote from: <k> on October 20, 2012, 05:58:23 PM
Well, they wanted to sell a coin, and at least it's a national hero and an attractive design.  ;)

Makes sense. At current exchange rate, SSL 500 = USD 0.12 or €0.09. With such a small value, it's obvious that you can't use it in Sierra Leone for purchases so they decided to make some money. :-X

Aditya
It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J. K. Rowling.

africancoins

Regarding....

>>>>So in 2004, it was his 159th birth anniversary or 108th anniversary of his death. Aren't these strange occasions to commemorate an event?<<<<

There is no way to mark an anniversary....  The other circulation coins have other people from history (1996 series)...  All in a similar way to the recent coins of Jamaica.

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

natko

Bank of SL states this coin as a circulation one, however does not mention 20 leones which is, as I suspected before, obviously a fake "fantasy pseudo" piece like Congolese or Somalian issue. And many other included in SCWC lately unfortunately.

http://www.bsl.gov.sl/coin_designs.html