AFRIQUE ÉQUATORIALE FRANÇAISE - FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA French Community (1958-1959). Proof of 40 francs, 1958 competition, by R. Joly, Frappe spéciale (SP) ND (1958), Paris. Av. CENTRAL AFRICA - BANK OF ISSUE. African head on the right; signature R. JOLY. Rv. Central totem pole between two palm trees with huts. Below: 40 / FRANCS and (different) around the totem. Lec.24 ; Bronze-aluminium - 8,02 g - 27 mm - 6 h PCGS SP61 (55936763). The fields barely rubbed, with finger marks forming a light patina. Superb to Fleur de coin. After the Second World War, French Equatorial Africa became part of the French Union. Then, by referendum on 28 September 1958, the five entities of the AEF (Congo, Central African Republic, Gabon, Chad and Cameroon) were grouped together in the French Community until 1959 before gaining independence in 1960.