North Korea issued a series of commemorative aluminium pieces around the turn of the millennium primarily for the foreign collector market, with negligible domestic circulation — hard currency was the priority, and aluminium pieces like this moved through state-controlled numismatic export channels rather than ordinary trade. At 7 grams in aluminium, the weight is unusually high for the metal, suggesting a thick, substantial flan more consistent with a presentation piece than anything intended for a pocket.
North Korea issued a series of commemorative aluminium pieces around the turn of the millennium primarily for the foreign collector market, with negligible domestic circulation — hard currency was the priority, and aluminium pieces like this moved through state-controlled numismatic export channels rather than ordinary trade. At 7 grams in aluminium, the weight is unusually high for the metal, suggesting a thick, substantial flan more consistent with a presentation piece than anything intended for a pocket.