A cobra with its hood raised, and beside its head an insert of natural amber: Togo’s 2013 silver 1500 francs continued the amber lunar series that the dragon had opened a year earlier.

The snake is the sixth sign of the Chinese twelve-year cycle and a symbol of wisdom and insight; its year began on 10 February 2013. The reverse carries the French legend «ANNÉE DU SERPENT 2013», the obverse the arms of the Republic of Togo with two lions and the value «1500 FRANCS CFA».

The format matches the 2012 dragon, two ounces of fine silver and 50 millimetres across, so the two coins sit together in a collection as a pair, while the amber, placed differently on each, keeps them distinct.

A natural choice for anyone building a lunar calendar run year by year or a collection of snakes and reptiles on world coins. Uncirculated condition: the coin never entered circulation and shows no wear.

Numismatics begins with a single coin and continues in the VPcoins catalogue.