Coins of the Comoro Islands

Coins issued by the independent Comoro Islands

In 1975 the government of the Comoro Islands unilaterally declared independence from France. A monetary authority - the Institut d'Emission des Comores - was rapidly established and its first act was to issue a 50 franc coin. This was followed by a 100 franc coin in 1977.

Following a second coup d'etat in 1978, the Banque Centrale des Comores replaced the Institut d'Emission des Comores and all coins since minted have been minted on behalf of the Banque Centrale des Comores. The coins of the independent Comorien state, first the Etat Comorien, later the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros (République Fédérale Islamique des Comores), continued to be struck at the Monnaie de Paris mint, and the Comorien franc remained an indivisible unit, fixed to the French franc at a rate of 50 KMF to 1 FF. In 1994 the Comorien franc was devalued and was fixed to the French franc at 75KMF to 1 FF until the end of 2001. On January 1, 2002, the French franc was replaced by the euro; the value of the Comorien franc remains the same, and is now fixed at 491.96775 KMF to one euro.

As with the 1964 issue, there were test versions of all the coins of the series, although the quantities of test varied (and are indicated below). With the exception of the word "ESSAI", they were in every respect identical to the coins released for general use in the same year.

5 francs

1984 issue

16a This coin is similar to the 1964 issue. The coin is unsigned and the engraver unknown, although the obverse (formerly the reverse) is little changed from the previous version. "Archipel des Comores" has been replaced by "Banque Centrale des Comores" and it now bears the date. Click on the coin for further details.
A test issue of 1700 specimens was followed by 1 010 000 examples of this coin minted for general use. The coin is of aluminum, has a net weight of 3.75 grams and a diameter of 31mm. The edge is unmilled. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the World Fisheries Conference logo) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the logo). Click on the coin for further details.

1992 issue

16b This coin is identical to the 1984 issue apart from the date. The coin is of aluminum, has a net weight of 3.75 grams and a diameter of 31mm. The edge is smooth. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the World Fisheries Conference logo) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the logo). Click on the coin for further details.

10 francs

1992 issue

23 The coin is unsigned and the engraver unknown. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). The coin is made of aluminum bronze and has a diameter of 22mm. The edge is unmilled. Click on the coin for further details.

25 francs

1981 issue

17a The coin is unsigned and the engraver unknown. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). 1000 examples of this coin were minted. The coin is of nickel, has a net weight of 3.9 grams and a diameter of 20mm. The edge is milled. It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". However, there is some doubt regarding the existence of this coin and images circulating do not seem to be authentic.

1982 issue

17b The coin is unsigned and the engraver unknown. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). The coin is of nickel, has a net weight of 3.9 grams and a diameter of 20mm. The edge is milled. It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". A test issue of 1900 specimens was followed by a general issue of 2 007 000 examples of this coin. Click on the coin for further details.

2001 issue

17c This coin is identical to the 1982 issue apart from the changed date and privy mark. Production figures for this issue are not yet available. Click on the coin for further details.

50 francs

1975 issue

18a This coin is of nickel, has a net weight of 6 grams and a diameter of 24mm. The edge is milled. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). This coin was issued by the Institut d'Emission des Comores. The engraver of this coin was Rousseau, and the reverse of the coin is monogrammed "CR". A test issue of 1800 specimens was followed by 1 200 200 examples of this coin minted for general use. Click on the coin for further details.

1990 issue

18b This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 6 grams and a diameter of 24mm. The edge is milled. Although struck at the Monnaie de Paris, it bears no mint or privy marks (Thanks Mr Paul Baker for pointing this out): all such identifying marks were left off the coin at the request of the Comorian government. This coin is similar in design to the 1975 issue, the difference being the replacement of the Institut d'Emission des Comores by the Banque Centrale des Comores, marked by a change from the Maltese cross and crescent motif to the crescent and four stars. The engraver of this coin was Rousseau, and the reverse of the coin is monogrammed "CR". Click on the coin for further details.

1994 issue

18c This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 6 grams and a diameter of 24mm. The edge is milled. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). The reverse of the coin is monogrammed "CR". Click on the coin for further details.

2001 issue

18d This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 6 grams and a diameter of 24mm. The edge is milled. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). The reverse of the coin is monogrammed "CR". Click on the coin for further details.

100 francs

1977 issue

19a This coin is of nickel, has a net weight of 10 grams and a diameter of 28mm. The edge is smooth. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". Click on the coin for further details.

1999 issue

19b This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 10 grams and a diameter of 28mm. The edge is smooth. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". Click on the coin for further details.

2003 issue

19c This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 10 grams and a diameter of 28mm. The edge is smooth. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Serge Levet (to the right of the date). It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". Click on the coin for further details.

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last updated 30/07/04

	*1984 issue*
16a		This coin is similar to the 1964 issue. The coin is unsigned and the engraver unknown, although the obverse (formerly the reverse) is little changed from the previous version. "Archipel des Comores" has been replaced by "Banque Centrale des Comores" and it now bears the date. Click on the coin for further details. A test issue of 1700 specimens was followed by 1 010 000 examples of this coin minted for general use. The coin is of aluminum, has a net weight of 3.75 grams and a diameter of 31mm. The edge is unmilled. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the World Fisheries Conference logo) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the logo). Click on the coin for further details.

	*1992 issue*
16b		This coin is identical to the 1984 issue apart from the date. The coin is of aluminum, has a net weight of 3.75 grams and a diameter of 31mm. The edge is smooth. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the World Fisheries Conference logo) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the logo). Click on the coin for further details.

	*1992 issue*
23		The coin is unsigned and the engraver unknown. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). The coin is made of aluminum bronze and has a diameter of 22mm. The edge is unmilled. Click on the coin for further details.

	*1981 issue*
17a		The coin is unsigned and the engraver unknown. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). 1000 examples of this coin were minted. The coin is of nickel, has a net weight of 3.9 grams and a diameter of 20mm. The edge is milled. It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". However, there is some doubt regarding the existence of this coin and images circulating do not seem to be authentic.

	*1982 issue*
17b		The coin is unsigned and the engraver unknown. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). The coin is of nickel, has a net weight of 3.9 grams and a diameter of 20mm. The edge is milled. It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". A test issue of 1900 specimens was followed by a general issue of 2 007 000 examples of this coin. Click on the coin for further details.

	*2001 issue*
17c		This coin is identical to the 1982 issue apart from the changed date and privy mark. Production figures for this issue are not yet available. Click on the coin for further details.

	*1975 issue*
18a		This coin is of nickel, has a net weight of 6 grams and a diameter of 24mm. The edge is milled. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). This coin was issued by the Institut d'Emission des Comores. The engraver of this coin was Rousseau, and the reverse of the coin is monogrammed "CR". A test issue of 1800 specimens was followed by 1 200 200 examples of this coin minted for general use. Click on the coin for further details.

	*1990 issue*
18b		This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 6 grams and a diameter of 24mm. The edge is milled. Although struck at the Monnaie de Paris, it bears no mint or privy marks (Thanks Mr Paul Baker for pointing this out): all such identifying marks were left off the coin at the request of the Comorian government. This coin is similar in design to the 1975 issue, the difference being the replacement of the Institut d'Emission des Comores by the Banque Centrale des Comores, marked by a change from the Maltese cross and crescent motif to the crescent and four stars. The engraver of this coin was Rousseau, and the reverse of the coin is monogrammed "CR". Click on the coin for further details.

	*1994 issue*
18c		This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 6 grams and a diameter of 24mm. The edge is milled. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). The reverse of the coin is monogrammed "CR". Click on the coin for further details.

	*2001 issue*
18d		This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 6 grams and a diameter of 24mm. The edge is milled. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). The reverse of the coin is monogrammed "CR". Click on the coin for further details.

	*1977 issue*
19a		This coin is of nickel, has a net weight of 10 grams and a diameter of 28mm. The edge is smooth. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". Click on the coin for further details.

	*1999 issue*
19b		This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 10 grams and a diameter of 28mm. The edge is smooth. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Emile Rousseau (to the right of the date). It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". Click on the coin for further details.

	*2003 issue*
19c		This coin is of nickel-plated steel, has a net weight of 10 grams and a diameter of 28mm. The edge is smooth. It bears the Paris mint mark (to the left of the date) and the privy mark of the chief engraver, Serge Levet (to the right of the date). It bears the legend "Augumentons la production alimentaire", "Let's increase food production". Click on the coin for further details.