Hey, coin fans! Stanley here, the Canuck coin collector with a time machine. So, I just got back from a trip to Central African Republic circa 1971, and let me tell you, it was a wild ride.
First off, I’ve visited a few countries around CAR before, like Cameroon and Chad, so I was excited to add some new coins to my collection. But when I arrived in this dusty little town, I wasn’t exactly sure where the heck I was. The buildings were a mix of mud huts and modern structures, and I had to ask around just to get my bearings.
Eventually, I got my coin collecting mojo going, and I used my classic tactic of trading some random stuff I had on me. I had this old, beat-up harmonica that I managed to swap for some seriously sweet coins. Who knew harmonicas were such hot currency in 1971 CAR?
See also: Central African Republic rare stamps for philatelists and buyers
Speaking of which, let me tell you about the country itself. Central African Republic was being ruled by President Jean-Bédel Bokassa at the time, and things weren’t exactly rosy. The country was facing economic struggles and political unrest, but that didn’t stop me from having a good time. I even got to try some of the local food, like cassava and plantains. Not bad, not bad at all.
When it was time to come back the present day, I had a serious haul of coins to sell. I put some up for auction, sold a few on eBay, and even gave a couple to a friend. I kept the best ones for myself, though, obviously.
More: United Arab Republic stamps for philatelists and other buyers
All in all, I made a sweet $2,483 from my 1971 CAR coin collection, and I’m already planning my next time-travel adventure. Who knows where I’ll end up next? One thing’s for sure, though: coin collecting never gets old.
