World Coins Chat: Benin & Dahomey

Benin was initially known as the kingdom of Danhomè (local name of Dahomey)which was a slave supplier for colons. Its discovery was shared between French, Italian and Portuguese navigators. But the kingdom remained independant despite this, even after a putsch made with the help of a Brazilian slave seller in 1818. The British finally obliged the kingdom to stop the slave traffic in 1852. The French started colonizing the coast in 1878 after a protectorate treatee in Cotonou. A political game started between French, British, German and Portuguese to take control of the coast. In 1889 the new king Behanzin denounced the treatee and attacked the French settlements, leading to 2 wars making the kingdom definitely under French rule in 1894. From 1904 to 1958 the colony became part of the French West Africa, up to its new status of an autonomous republic and its independance 2 years later, in 1960. This leaded to a succession of putches up to 1972 when a new autocratic leader, Commander Mathieu Kérékou, leaded the last putsch and decided to move the country to a People's Republic of Benin in 1975, exactly one year after announcing the country to become communist. This communist policy was a complete fail, as in 1990 like most communist countries the regime started to move to a democracy, which more succeded since then.

Dahomey and Benin had the same currency as the other French West African colonies (aka. French Franc and CFA Franc). Dahomey only minted as their own gold and silver coins (including silver-plated ones), and Benin started making brass, cupronickel and plated coins. Some of them may have been released for circulation, but not sure they really circulated. Just notice the funny Famous Plants of the World series, which included coins commemorating Cannabis Sativa, with one having a real weed smell.

Dahomey:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/dahomey-1.html
Benin:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/benin-1.html