Burkina Faso - Slavery Abolition - Wilburforce

November 2024

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This is one of the silver coins issued to commemorate the abolition of slavery. William Wilburforce is on the Burkina Faso coin.
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.
Also, in 2007, those seven states authorized the minting (a mere 850 each but only 50 for the proof issues!) of 27mm silver (0.25 oz. ASW) Essai coins to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of that monumental event.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 name. In the mean time another, as yet not fully recognized, state has joined the West African States, Guinea-Bissau.