Meteorite Tazerzait Niger 2016 1000 Francs 1 Oz silver coin AF Real piece Meteorite

Description

Meteorite Tazerzait Niger 2016 1000 Francs 1 Oz silver coin AF Real piece Meteorite

In the afternoon of August 21 in 1991 a fireball, followed by a huge smoke trail and a loud explosion, terrified a young nomad in north-western desert of Niger. The boy, seventh child of his father, a member of a local nomadic Tuareg tribe, was tracking a stray goat at the foot of Mt. Tazerzait in the north-eastern Tamesna, a pleistocene gravel plain in the Republic of Niger. It was the day of his seventh birthday.

Searching for the heavenly intruder, the boy found an impact pit, and in its centre rested an enormous black rock only half buried in the bright clay soil. What a spectacular birthday gift he may have thought. The next day the boy led his brothers to the site and they estimated the weight of the rock to exceed 200 pounds. They had no means to transport such a heavy weight, so they finally decided to break the huge rock into more convenient loads. During the following days the gang hammered the meteorite into more than fifty pieces, which resulted in approximately 100 kilos of meteoritic fragments in total, the largest weighing 30 kilos.

The amazing Mount Tazerzait meteorite is predestined to be immortalised on this interesting coin issued by Republic of Niger with an authentic fragment of meteorite inlaid. It depicts a part of Tahoua, a small city in Niger, the place where the meteorite has fallen. The coin features Ultra High Relief, Antique Finish quality and a gorgeous color combination. Mintage limited to only 699 pcs!

The colorful coin’s reverse features the impact of meteorite Mount Tazerzait with Earth. Panoramic view with a part of Tahoua city. The city is primarily a market town for the surrounding agricultural area, and a meeting place for the Tuareg people from the north and the Fulani people from the south. For this reason the reverse of the coin features also a man with two animals, a camel and a goat. On the top, the inscription: “Mount Tazerzait Meteorite”. The coin’s obverse depicts the Niger’s Coat of Arms and the face value.

Specifications

Metal Silver

Mintage 699

Fineness (% purity) 99.9%

Content (Troy OZ) 1

Denomination (CFA) 1000 Francs

Weight (g) 31.10

Diameter (mm) 38.6

Year of Issue 2016

Country Republic of Niger

Quality Premium Antique finish

Exterior Decoration Real Meteorite Stones

Package type includes Luxury themed box

Certificate of Authenticity Two: for coin and meteorite