1000 Francs CFA St. Petersburg Lighthouse

Reverse

The motif presents the the iconic Rostral lighthouse located in the city of St Petersburg.
The location of the lighthouse in Russia is marked by a coloured element, with the name of the lighthouse and the country inscribed in French along the edge.
Bottom left shows the year of issue (2012).

Script: Latin

Lettering: SAINT PETERSBOURG RUSSIE

Translation: Saint Petersburg Russia

Edge

Reeded

Comment

The city of St. Petersburg at the head of the Gulf of Finland have always been Russia’s traditional western outlet to the sea. Situated on the square in front of the Stock Exchange are two 32-metre high monumental red-brick lighthouses decorated with rostra, which are prow decorations of captured ships. The tradition of mounting these figures of sirens on columns began in ancient Greece and Rome in commemoration of naval victories. Hence, these Doric columns are triumphal monuments with personified power and greatness of the Russian Empire.

Lighthouses have been built since ancient times as a navigation point on well-defined coordinates to help establish the ship’s position on the water. Besides serving a significant purpose, some of these lighthouses, such as the two rostral columns in St. Petersburg, are symbolic as well.

Interesting fact

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
2012	2500	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 1000 Francs CFA (St. Petersburg Lighthouse) 2012 coin.