20 Dalasis United Nations, Silver Proof Issue

The Gambia issued this coin as part of a wave of commemorative silver proofs released by small nations throughout the 1990s to mark the United Nations' 50th anniversary. The UN was founded in San Francisco in June 1945, and the half-century milestone prompted commemorative programs from dozens of issuing authorities — many, like The Gambia, with negligible circulation coinage traditions but active relationships with coin marketing firms operating in the European and North American collector market.

KM#37a distinguishes the silver proof from the base-metal circulation strike of the same type.