Obverse: The obverse of the coin features the coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—a leopard’s head, a spear and an elephant tusk. The ribbons of the coat of arms bear the words of the national motto “JUSTICE”, “PAIX”, “TRAVAIL” (“Justice, Peace, Work”). The inscription “RÉPUBLIQUE DÉMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO” surrounds the composition, while the denomination “20 FRANCS”, weight and silver fineness “1 oz Ag 999.9” are indicated below.
Reverse: The reverse of the coin depicts the prehistoric primate Gigantopithecus against a backdrop of tropical vegetation and a rocky landscape. The upper section bears the series name “PREHISTORIC LIFE”, the species name “GIGANTOPITHECUS”, the period “8–0.3 MIO YEARS BC” and the year of issue “2022”. The principal geological periods—the Cretaceous, Tertiary and Quaternary—are also marked around the edge of the coin.
About the coin: This 2022 1 oz silver coin belongs to the “Prehistoric Life” series and is dedicated to one of the most impressive extinct primates—Gigantopithecus. The coin is struck from 99.99% pure silver, weighs 1 troy ounce (31.1 g), measures 38.6 mm in diameter and has a face value of 20 Congolese francs. The “Prehistoric Life” series presents prehistoric animals and various periods of Earth’s geological history, with this issue focusing on Gigantopithecus, one of the largest known apes.
