Niger

Niger, officially the Republic of Niger, is the largest country in West Africa with the  land area of almost 489,678 square miles and a population (around 16 million) that is growing at one of the fastest rates in the world. It’s a landlocked country, 80 percent of which is desert where the heat can be so intense that rain frequently vaporizes before it reaches the ground. Its main export, uranium, is prone to price fluctuations and agriculture is threatened by the encroaching desert.

This African country is also known to issue modern commemorative coins. Its wildlife-themed collectibles and those featuring Mecca compasses are worth paying attention to.