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10 Won Blue whale
| Issuer | Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | 2.4 mm |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A highly detailed naturalistic depiction of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) occupies the central field, shown in left profile swimming at the ocean surface, with seabirds in flight above and a suggestion of waves in the background. The scientific name 'BALAENOPTE MUSCULUS' is inscribed along the upper arc in Latin characters, while the date '2001' appears in the lower central field and 'BLAU WAL' is inscribed along the lower periphery. The surrounding field is mirror-like, enhancing the contrast with the finely engraved marine scene. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
North Korea issued a series of aluminum wildlife coins around 2001 primarily for the collector export market — hard currency earned through foreign numismatic sales was a meaningful revenue stream for the regime during the prolonged economic crisis following the collapse of Soviet aid in the early 1990s. These pieces saw no domestic circulation; the won denominations printed on them bore no relationship to the dysfunctional internal economy.
The blue whale issue is cataloged under two distinct varieties depending on the target collector market — one with a magnetic core, one without.