Palau has issued small-format gold pieces under various novelty programs since the early 2000s, typically targeting the collector gift market rather than serving any domestic monetary function — the republic's official currency is the US dollar. The Sand Dollar series sits within that commercial niche, produced for the European collector market through arrangements with the Coin Invest Trust (CIT) in Liechtenstein, which has handled a significant portion of Palau's licensed numismatic output.
At one gram of .9999 fine gold, the piece carries legal tender status of one dollar — a face value that bears no relationship to its bullion content.
Palau has issued small-format gold pieces under various novelty programs since the early 2000s, typically targeting the collector gift market rather than serving any domestic monetary function — the republic's official currency is the US dollar. The Sand Dollar series sits within that commercial niche, produced for the European collector market through arrangements with the Coin Invest Trust (CIT) in Liechtenstein, which has handled a significant portion of Palau's licensed numismatic output.
At one gram of .9999 fine gold, the piece carries legal tender status of one dollar — a face value that bears no relationship to its bullion content.