Cameroon William Shakespeare 5 oz Silver 2023 Antique Finish

The William Shakespeare – First Folio 400th Anniversary coin is a unique issue commemorating the 400th anniversary of the publication of the famed First Folio—the first collected edition of William Shakespeare’s plays. Published seven years after the author’s death, this work for the first time organized his plays into the categories of comedies, tragedies, and histories, becoming a cornerstone of the world’s literary heritage.

Originally titled “Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies”, the First Folio was compiled by the playwright’s friends and colleagues—John Heminges and Henry Condell. The publication contained 36 plays, including 18 previously unpublished, saving them from irretrievable loss.

The First Folio is regarded as one of the most valuable works in world literature. An original copy set a record as the most expensive literary work sold at auction—achieving a price of £2 million in 2022 at Sotheby’s in New York. Earlier, a rare 1623 edition was sold at Christie’s for nearly $10 million.

The coin is struck from pure .999 silver, weighs 5 ounces (155.5 g), and has an impressive diameter of 65 mm. The Antique Finish imparts a historic, noble character, highlighting the depth of detail and the sculptural quality of the design.

The issue comes from Cameroon and has a denomination of 5,000 francs, and is legal tender of the issuing country. The year of issue is 2023.

Obverse: features the issuing country’s official elements, including the denomination and year of issue, maintaining the classic layout typical of collector issues.

Reverse: alludes to the monumental character of the First Folio, capturing the spirit of the era and the significance of William Shakespeare’s work through a refined, dimensional composition in a historical style.