Dschibuti. 250 Francs 1996 Histoire de la Navigation, 1/25 Oz (.999) Proof (Ohne Mindestpreis)

Djibouti 1996 Portuguese “Nao” Ship 250 Francs Gold Coin,Proof


Issued Year:1996

Face Value: 250 Francs

Weight:1.24g 99.9% Gold


Description:

In the early 16th century, amid their expansive maritime endeavors, the Portuguese turned their attention to the Somali coast and the Gulf of Aden waters. Referring to the stretch of land from Cape Guardafui to Massawa as the "costa do Abexi" or "costa do Preste," (encompassing Puntland, Somaliland, Djibouti, and Eritrea), they mistakenly believed it to be dominated by the Christian Ethiopian ruler associated with the legendary figure of Prester John. Portuguese armadas regularly visited this region, seeking valuable pilots, provisions, and ship repair facilities. In 1507, Tristão da Cunha led an expedition to Suq fortress on Socotra, later abandoned. Simultaneously, Afonso de Albuquerque dispatched envoys to Zayla to establish ties with the Ethiopian ruler Lebna Dengel. Portuguese sources, including Afonso de Albuquerque's "Commentarios," document their military and geographic endeavors along the Horn of Africa. Their observations contributed to mapping the region, notably depicted in the Cantino planisphere of 1502. These explorations indirectly influenced the later arrival of European powers such as the Dutch and British East India Companies.