10 Kwacha Conservation - Silver Proof

Zambia's 1979 Conservation series was issued under the WWF-affiliated program that encouraged developing nations to produce high-value collector coins, with proceeds nominally directed toward wildlife preservation efforts. The silver proof strikes were produced for the international collector market rather than domestic circulation — Zambia's own economy at the time was contracting sharply as copper revenues collapsed following the mid-decade commodity crash.

KM#19a is the silver variant of a type also struck in cupro-nickel, distinguishable by the .925 fineness and proof finish rather than any design difference.