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1500 Shillings Death's Head Hawkmoth
| Issuer | Bank of Tanzania |
|---|---|
| Year | 2018 |
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| Technique | Proof |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is struck in the distinctive silhouette shape of a moth in flight, with the upper portion forming the spread wings and the lower portion a semicircular body section. At the centre, a raised circular cartouche bears the Tanzanian coat of arms, depicting two human figures flanking a shield adorned with traditional motifs, with the national motto 'UHURU NA UMOJA' on a scroll at the base. The legend 'TANZANIA' arcs above the arms within the cartouche, with the denomination '1500 SHILLINGS' inscribed below. The date '2018' appears within a beaded oval at the lower edge of the coin. The broad wing-shaped fields are decorated with an intricate geometric pattern of intersecting diagonal lines and circular devices, rendered in matte relief against the polished background. |
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| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Tanzania's wildlife coin program has leaned heavily on dramatic nocturnal subjects, and the Death's Head Hawkmoth — named for the skull-like marking on its thorax — made it a natural choice for a coin already calculated to unsettle. The species is native to sub-Saharan Africa and has carried folkloric associations with death and bad omens across multiple cultures, including in parts of East Africa.
The 62.2g format places this firmly in the two-troy-ounce tier favored by collectors during the mid-2010s bullion art coin boom, when mints worldwide competed aggressively for that market segment.