Niger - Slavery Abolition - John Brown

May 2024

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Niger honors the American abolitionist John Brown...no longer moldering in his grave (1850 - 1859).
Great Britain abolished the use of slavery for all the members of the West African States in the Year of our Lord, 1807. A special commemorative 2 Pounds coin was struck in 2007 to honor the fruition of that historic event (see Great Britain).
Also, in 2007, those seven states authorized the trial minting (a mere 850 each!) of 27mm silver (0.25 oz. ASW) Essai coins to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of that monumental event. These coins were a project by "JL", Joseph Lang, (Steve Album Coins) and only the trial strikes were made, none officially minted by the countries involved. The coins feature the heroes of the Abolition of Slavery movement on one side and the issuing nations' coats of arms on the other. Included is Olaudah Equiano, also known as Gustavus Vassa, on the Benin coin. William Wilburforce is on the Burkina Faso coin. The seal of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade is on the Ivory Coast coin. Frederick Douglas is pictured on the Mali coin. Senegal pictures Francois-Dominique Toussaint Louverture. Togo honors French abolitionist Victor Schoelcher. Because the members of the West African States [7 in 2007] utilize a common currency, they have issued few coins under their own country names. In the mean time another, as yet, not fully recognized state, has joined the West African States, Guinea-Bissau.