Chad – The country and its gold coins

Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, and Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon to the west. In terms of area, Chad is the fifth largest country in Africa.

Origin of the name

Chad takes its name from Lake Chad, which lies on the country’s western border. The word “tsade” means “large body of water” or “lake” in several indigenous languages.

Population: 17.6 million as of early 2023

Capital: N ‘Djamena is the capital of the Republic of Chad and also the largest city in the country. The former name is Fort Lamy.

Presidents

Idriss Déby Itno (June 18, 1952 – April 20, 2021) was a Chadian politician and military officer who served as President of Chad from 1990 until his death in 2021.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno was appointed interim president of Chad for a non-renewable 2-year transition period until elections are held.

Official languages: Arabic and French, and over 120 indigenous languages.

The national flag of Chad is a vertical tricolor consisting of a blue, a gold and a red field from left to right. The flag of Chad was modeled after the flag of France.

Polygamy is completely normal and legal in Chad, and approximately more than one-third of women live in polygamous marriages.

Chadian cuisine: the people there use a variety of vegetables, fruits, meats and grains. The most popular grains include millet, rice and sorghum as staple foods. Sorghum refers to a special genus of millet and is a spelt cereal from the sweet grass family, which also includes wheat and corn. Popular meats include goat, cattle, sheep, and chicken, with goat being the most common livestock in Chad.

National symbols

The goat and the lion are the national symbols of Chad.

Chad – Mining and precious metals

Chad has large reserves of gold and uranium.

Gold deposits exist in various parts of Chad, including the southwest of the country. Other mineral deposits include titanium and bauxite.

Chad destinations

N’Djamena has many popular attractions, including Grand Mosque N’Djamena, Musee National N’Djamena (National Museum) and Avenue Charles de Gaulle.

Zakouma National Park is the first national park in Chad and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site by the Chadian government. Zakouma National Park is home to the “Big Five”: rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. In 2018, rhinos were introduced to the park, making Zakouma National Park a popular “Big Five” destination for many tourists.

The Ouianga Lakes consist of a total of 18 lakes fed by so-called underground fossil water. Some of the lakes are salty, while others are fresh and harbor life.

Lake Chad is a historically large, shallow, endorsee in central Africa. Lake Chad is located on the border between Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger.

The Guelta d’Archei is an oasis, or rather a guelta, as the name suggests, in the heart of the Sahara desert. A guelta is a special type of wetland typical of desert regions, formed when underground water rises to the surface from depressions and forms permanent pools and reservoirs.

Gold coin from Chad – our favorites

Chad is not a major gold producer, but the use of gold coins as a means of payment has a long tradition in the country.

The use of gold coins in Chad dates back to the 16th century, when the Kanem-Bornu Empire was at its height. The empire was known for its wealth and power, and gold coins were used as a symbol of this wealth. The coins were minted in the city of Kukawa, which was the capital of the empire at that time. The coins were made from gold mined in the region and were used to pay for goods and services within the empire.

The design of gold coins from Chad usually showed the image of the respective ruler, as well as various symbols and inscriptions. The coins were usually small and light, making them easy to carry and use in transactions.

Today, Chad gold coins are collected mainly as historical artifacts rather than used as currency. However, there are still some collectors and investors who wish to acquire these coins for their historical and numismatic value.

One of the most popular gold coins from Chad is the 1000 francs coin from 1975. This coin shows on one side the image of a horse with rider and on the other side the coat of arms of Chad. Due to its rarity and historical significance, this coin is highly sought after by collectors.

Another popular gold coin from Chad is the 5000 francs coin from 1978. This coin shows the image of a camel on one side and the coat of arms of Chad on the other. This coin is also very sought after by collectors.

Another very popular gold coin is Chad “Independence Anniversary” 1960 1970 10000 Francs. Chad belonged to France until 1960 and formally gained independence on August 11, 1960. Charles De Gaulle was French president at the time. You can see his face on the back of the gold coin. Feature: Mint Numismatica Italiana. Currently, there are no higher grade examples in either NGC or PCGS.

African Safari Lion 2018 PP 1oz Gold Coin – this gold coin comes from the African Safari series with the motif of a lion. The edition is limited to only 99 copies. The motif of the lion is the first issue of the African Safari series, which began in January 2018, and thus particularly sought after by collectors or investors around the world. Incidentally, the lion is also the national symbol of Chad.

In summary, gold coins from Chad have a long and rich history dating back to the 16th century. Although these coins are no longer used as currency, they remain highly prized by collectors and investors for their historical and numismatic value. If you are interested in collecting gold coins from Chad, be sure to do your research and work with a reputable dealer to ensure you are getting authentic coins at a fair price.