The face on the 25 Francs CFA coin, the chemist Mariam Dicoh Konan is no more. A few years back, we introduced you to the “chemist in your purses,” Une Chimiste dans vos portefeuilles / A Chemist in Your Purse, Mrs Mariam Dicoh Konan. If you are from Côte d’Ivoire, and Francophone West Africa in general, you would have certainly held a 25 F CFA (that treacherous currency  is not our subject today – note there is a difference between FCFA from West Africa and FCFA from Central Africa… same currency, but not interchangeable between zones … another incongruity) coin in your hands at some point, and on that coin is the engraved face of Mariam Dicoh Konan, the first woman chemist of Côte d’Ivoire.  She is engraved on the 25 FCFA coin with a burette. Countless people have walked around with her face in their pockets, without knowing her. Today, the 25 F coin is rarely seen in circulation – inflation has taken care of it.

For Mrs Konan, it was an honor to represent her country. Her son recounted to RFI, « To summarize for you a little the greatness of the character, on the anecdote of this 25 CFA franc coin, we were not aware of it. Some people, some lawyers came and said  “but tell me Madam, has anyone asked you for the image rights? You can sue the Central Bank today and demand damages and interests.” She responded curtly, “It is an honor for me to represent my country and Africa on a coin, never will I do such a thing.” This is to tell you who she is as a character.» She was a true patriot who loved her country and continent (I do hope that the country recognized her). We need more Mariam Dicoh Konan around!