Republic of Cabinda (Fantasy issue)   These coins are not legal tender issues and were produced by an unknown resource through a Chinese firm. None of these coin issues are authorized by the Cabindan Government. Cabinda is located just north of the Congo River in Africa, is currently controlled by Angola. Cabinda (also spelled Kabinda) is an exclave and province of Angola. Cabinda is a small territory of area 7,283 km². It's status that has been disputed by many political organizations in the territory. The capital city is also called Cabinda. The city is also called Tchiowa by the Cabindans. The Cabinda city has a port, and there are considerable offshore oil reserves nearby. The four municipalities of Belize, Cacongo and Buco Zau are part of Cabinda in the territory. Cabinda had separate stamps issues from 1894 to 1920 under the name of “The Portuguese Congo”.   Modern Cabinda results from the fusion of three kingdoms: N'Goyo, Loango and Kacongo. The Republic of Cabinda traces its claims to self-sovereignty to its initial status as a Portuguese protectorate, known as the Portuguese Congo. This protectorate had a separate history and legal status from that of the much larger Portuguese West Africa, dating to its inception on 19 September 1883 and confirmed by the Treaty of Simulambuco and the Berlin Conference in 1885. Its closest political predecessor was the iron age N'goyo kingdom, which sought voluntarily incorporation into the Portuguese Empire as a way of obtaining protection from hostile neighboring states. Based on this they are seeking complete independence from Angola since 1975.       Cabinda released its first seven coins that including a 1, 5, 10 and 50 Centavos and bimetallic 1, 2 1/2 and 5 Convertible Escudos. The Cabinda Convertible Escudo is equivalent to a United States Dollar. All seven coins depict native fish. The reverse of the coins shows the arms of the Banco de Cabinda. These coins were dated from 2001 to 2005. In addition Cabinda issued a large rectangular 7 1/2 Escudos dated 2005 commemorating the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). As Cabinda is under Angolan control, these coins do not circulate in Cabinda and all such issues are not authorized by the Cabindan Government as indicated by their exile government at: http://www.cabinda.net/Fake_Coins.htm.   7½ Escudos. Year: 2005. Weight: 35.25g. Metal: Brass. Diameter: 60.0 mm x 30.0 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Medal. Mint: N/A. Obverse: Bank of Cabinda logo in center. "Banco de Cabinda" (Bank of Cabinda) written above. "Sete Escudo Convertivel E Cinqüenta Centavos" (Convertible seven Escudos and fifty centavos) written denomination below. Reverse: Fish, Pig and a Chicken pictures in center. "60o Aniversario de FAO" (60th Anniversary of FAO) written above. "Produza Mais Comida" written below. Mintage: 1,500. Minted Years: One Year type.   Cabinda recently released two 2005 dated coins commemorating their 30th anniversary of independence (30 Anos Independencia). It is a somewhat ironic set of coins, as Cabinda has been under Angolan occupation for the past 30 years. The two coins are attractive. The 30 Centavos is a triangular coin picturing a fish on the reverse. The 5 Escudos is a bi-metallic coin that pictures a school of fish on the reverse. The obverse of both coins features a monument and a legend attesting to the 30 years of Independence.   30 centavos. Year: 2005. Weight: 6.00g. Metal: Copper-Nickel. Diameter: triangle; 30.0 mm each side. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Medal. Mint: N/A. Obverse: 30th anniversary of independence with bank logo on the top with dates 1975-2005 divided. Reverse: Fish with value above and written denomination "Trinta Centavos" below. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: One Year type. 5 Escudos. Year: 2005. Weight: 9.85g. Metal: Bi-metallic; Copper-Nickel in center and Brass outer ring. Diameter: 29.0 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Medal. Mint: N/A. Obverse: 30th anniversary of independence with bank logo on the left with dates 1975-2005 divided below. Reverse: School of Fish with written denomination "Cinco Escudos Convertivel" (Five Escudos Convertible) below. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: One Year type.   Two new odd-shaped coins were released for Cabinda: a square 2 Centavos picturing a sea-shell and a six-sided 25 Centavos picturing a fish in 2006.   2 centavos. Year: 2006. Weight: 4.63g. Metal: Copper. Diameter: 20.0 mm x 20.0 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Medal. Mint: N/A. Obverse: Bank of Cabinda logo with date divided. Reverse: Sea-Shell with value above and written denomination "Dois Centavos" below. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: One Year type. 25 centavos. Year: 2006. Weight: 4.96g. Metal: Copper-Nickel. Diameter: 24.0 mm x 24.0 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Medal. Mint: N/A. Obverse: Bank of Cabinda logo with date divided. Reverse: Fish with value above and written denomination "Veinticinco Centavos" below. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: One Year type.   10 coins in one set: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos and 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5 Escudos, including 4 bi-metallic coins were issued in 2008. 1 Escudo 2008 Large bi-metallic coin of 38mm in diameter was also issued. Monetary Reform since Jan 01, 2009 was changed from Escudo to Real. In 2009 a set of 9 coins were issued: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Avos and 1, 2, Reals. (1, 2, Reals are bi-metallic coins), all featured different fishes. In 2010, a very attractive coin of 5 Reais bi-metallic coin was produced to celebrate the 35 years of Cabindan independence (35 Anos Independencia).   5 Reais. Year: 2010. Weight: 14.73g. Metal: Bi-metallic; Copper-Nickel in center and Brass outer ring. Diameter: 28.50 mm. Edge: six patches each of reeded and plain edge. Alignment: Medal. Mint: N/A. Obverse: value in center dividing the date. "Banco de Cabinda" written below. Reverse: "Cinco Reais" written above. 35th anniversary of independence with gun on the right with dates 1975-2005 divided below.. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: One Year type.   1 Real 2011 Bi-metallic on 65th Anniversary of the UNICEF was also issued. There might be other issues, seen elsewhere that may not be mentioned above.       Micro-Nations   Chiefa Coins