Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies. In 2006, declining economic conditions prompted two massive strikes that sparked urban unrest in many Guinean cities.

Republic of Guinea Coins - République de Guinée

1968 Tenth Anniversary of Independence
Guinea issued an impressive proof set of four gold and four silver coins in 1969 and 1970 for the 10th anniversary of its independence in 1968.
Each coin has its own different design, which adds to the attraction of the set. It is a rare set which we only see very infrequently.

Technical Specifications

Denomination	Diameter	Weight	Fineness	Metal Content
10,000 Francs	44.5	40.0000	.9000 Au	1.1575 AGW
5,000 Francs	31.0	20.0000	.9000 Au	.5787 AGW
2,000 Francs	22.0	8.0000	.9000 Au	.2315 AGW
1,000 Francs	17.0	4.0000	.9000 Au	.1157 AGW
All 4 Gold		72.0000	.9000 Au	2.0834 AGW
500 Francs	41.0	29.0800	.9990 Ag	.9349 ASW
250 Francs	34.5	14.5300	.9990 Ag	.4671 ASW
200 Francs	28.5	11.7000	.9990 Ag	.3761 ASW
100 Francs	20.0	5.6500	.9990 Ag	.1816 ASW
All 4 Silver		60.9600	.9990 Ag	1.9597 ASW

Notes on Table
Weight = Gross weight in grams.
Fineness Au = purity of gold alloy.
Fineness Ag = purity of silver alloy.
Metal Content = Actual metal content in troy ounces.
AGW = Actual gold content in troy ounces.
ASW = Actual silver content in troy ounces.

Descriptions

• Reverse - All
  Coat of Arms, elephant in quartered shield with dove of peace flying above. There is a stalk of sorgum on either side of the shield.
  A ribbon or scroll on three sides of the shield carries the inscribed motto "TRAVAIL JUSTICE SOLIDARITE"
  The legend reads in three sections:-
  1958 - 1968
  X ANNIVERSAIRE
  FRANCS GUINEENS
  The small date is just below the ribbon, and above the mark of value "10,000" for example.
  According to some sources the coat of arms from 12th October 1968 to 1972, and then from 1979 onwards, was a silk-cotton tree on a gray shield, with 6 stars above, and the motto "UNIDAD - PAZ - JUSTICIA" on a scroll below. As can be seen from our coins, the coat-of-arms was actually different at the time.
  
• 10,000 Francs
  Portrait of Ahmed Sekou Toure facing half left, with the legend
  REPUBLIQUE DE GUINEE
  AHMED SEKOU TOURE
• 5,000 Francs
  HELSINKI 1952, MELBOURNE 1956, ROMA 1960, TOKIO 1964, MEXICO 68, each with appropriate symbols, in five Olympic rings, with the legends
  REP. DE GUINEE
  OLYMPIA MUNICH - 1972
• 2,000 Francs
  Lunar landing theme, with the legend
  REPUBLIQUE DE GUINEE
  L'HOMME A LA LUNE
• 1,000 Francs
  Portraits of John & Robert Kennedy, with the legend
  REPUBLIQUE DE GUINEE
  1917 - 1963
  1925 - 1968
  JOHN F. - ROBERT F. KENNEDY
• Silver 500 Francs
  Native dancers in feathered outfits, dancing (to the birdy song?)
  REPUBLIQUE DE GUINEE
  DANSE DES OISEAUX (Danse of the birds)
  
• Silver 250 Francs
  Portrait of Alpha Yaya Diallo with spear
  REPUBLIQUE DE GUINEE
  1850 1912
  ALPHA YAYA DIALLO
• Silver 200 Francs
  Portrait of Almamy Samory Toure, facing
  REPUBLIQUE DE GUINEE
  1830 1900
  ALMAMY SAMORY TOURE
• Silver 100 Francs
  Portrait of Martin Luther King facing right
  REPUBLIQUE DE GUINEE
  1929 1968
  MARTIN LUTHER KING
• Box
  The box is leather covering on wood, with fitted velvet inside, and a piece of leopard skin attached to the outer lid.

Notes
On our set, and possibly on all sets, there are distinct lines visible on most coins, which look at first glance like scratches, but which on closer inspection to be irregularities either in the dies, or more probably in the blanks (planchets).

Price & Availability
Please telephone for current prices and availability.
The $ prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations.

Date	Description	Grade	Mintage	Availability	Price £	Price $
1969	Complete set in box	Proof, almost FDC, some hairlines	2,300*	Yes	£2,650	$4,250

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