The Silver Somalian Elephant is nothing if not an interesting coin. If its back story wasn’t enough to attract attention, its status as an authorized, legal tender coin in Somalia surely is enough to grab headlines among numismatists. Regardless of these factors, its beautiful designs and .999 purity make it a valuable addition to investment portfolios and collections. Silver.com now offers the 2014 1 oz Silver Somalian Elephant Proof Coin in a high-relief strike.
Coin Highlights:
- Production limited to just 1,000 coins worldwide!
- Ships in a protective capsule, enclosed in a presentation box.
- Consists of one troy ounce of .999 fine silver.
- Issued a face value of 100 Shillings (Somalia).
- Produced by Germany’s Bavarian State Mint.
- Struck in High-Relief Proof finish.
Silver Somalian Elephant coins were first introduced for the nation of Somalia in 2004. The coins feature a new design each year, though the motif always focuses on the African elephant in its native environment.
The legal tender status of these coins remains suspect after more than a decade of production. While the mint has a letter on file from a Somali representative, the head of the nation’s central bank insists no permission was given to strike these coins. Nevertheless, investors trust the .999 purity of the silver in the coin, and collectors enjoy the rotating design sets on the reverse.
Each of the 2014 1 oz Silver Somalian Elephant Proof Coins in this product listing is a high-relief proof. The stark contrast between the design set and its background field is created using special dies, which strike blanks under intense pressure to create a concave surface on the coin.
On the reverse side of each coin is the image of a herd of elephants on the march across the savanna. With the sun high in the sky behind them, a male bull leads the way, followed by a female and a young calf.
The obverse features the coat of arms for Somalia. The shield image is surrounded by engravings that include “Somali Republic,” the coin’s year of minting, and its face value.
The Bavarian State Mint is the oldest operating company in the city of Munich, the capital of the state of Bavaria in Germany. It is one of the nation’s five mints, and one of the few in Europe permitted to produce Euros. Please submit any questions to Silver.com at 888-989-7223, online via live web chat, or through email.