A spliff a day keeps the doctor away! Or was that an apple? Who cares, the wacky baccy numismaty returns.

Numicollect’s new selection is now upon us and it includes a pair of old friends. Issued in 2016 as part of their long running Famous Plants range, and the last that we know of, it featured a concave high-relief strike of a Cannabis Sativa leaf. The sativa has become more than part of the series, almost taking over as the main subject.

The two new coins here are differently finished versions of the 2016 original and both look very chill. There’s a black proof, and one gilded in our favourite mellow yellow, both on one-ounce 0.999 silver coins. There looks to be a healthy level of high relief, and the coloured leaf over the bed of leaves enhances the sense of depth.

The obverse remains the same, embellished with the national emblem of the African state of Benin. Fans of the series will welcome its return and the choice of finishes will be a welcome distraction. Just 499 pieces of each of these Smartminted coins will be produced and they’re available to order now.

CANNABIS SATIVA

Cannabis sativa is an annual herbaceous flowering plant indigenous to Eastern Asia, but now of cosmopolitan distribution due to widespread cultivation. It has been cultivated throughout recorded history, used as a source of industrial fiber, seed oil, food, recreation, religious and spiritual moods and medicine. Each part of the plant is harvested differently, depending on the purpose of its use. The species was first classified by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The word sativa means “things that are cultivated.”

Although the main psychoactive constituent of Cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the plant is known to contain more than 500 compounds, among them at least 113 cannabinoids; however, most of these “minor” cannabinoids are only produced in trace amounts. Besides THC, another cannabinoid produced in high concentrations by some plants is cannabidiol (CBD), which is not psychoactive but has recently been shown to block the effect of THC in the nervous system. Differences in the chemical composition of Cannabis varieties may produce different effects in humans. Synthetic THC, called dronabinol, does not contain cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), or other cannabinoids, which is one reason why its pharmacological effects may differ significantly from those of natural Cannabis preparations. (Wikipedia)

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION 1,000 Francs (Benin) 1,000 Francs (Benin)
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 31.1 grams 31.1 grams
DIMENSIONS 38.61 mm 38.61 mm
FINISH Black proof Gilded
MODIFICATIONS Colour, concave Colour, concave
MINTAGE 499 499
BOX / C.O.A. Yes / Yes Yes / Yes