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250 Shillings Mayflower - Pilgrim Fathers
| Issuer | Central Bank of Somalia |
|---|---|
| Year | 2002 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 20.07 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | REPUBLIC of SOMALIA 20 / 02 250 SHILLINGS |
| Reverse description | A finely detailed three-masted galleon identified as the Mayflower is depicted under full sail, navigating stylised waves across the central field. A large compass rose or wind rose in high relief appears behind the sails to the upper left, evoking the theme of oceanic navigation. Flags fly from the mainmast and foremast, adding dynamism to the composition. The legend MAYFLOWER arcs along the upper periphery, while THE PILGRIM FATHERS curves along the lower right in smaller lettering. The date 1620, commemorating the historic transatlantic voyage, is inscribed in the lower exergue beneath the vessel. |
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| Additional information |
Somalia's use of its coinage authority as a revenue-generating vehicle for foreign distributors was well established by the early 2000s, and this piece fits squarely in that commercial program. The Mayflower connection has nothing to do with Somalia — the subject was chosen entirely for Western collector markets, particularly American buyers with an appetite for commemorative themes tied to 1620.
The Pilgrim landing had already been commemorated extensively by the U.S. Mint, most notably in the 1920 and 1921 Pilgrim Tercentenary half dollars. This Somali issue appeared 82 years after those, with no official anniversary justification.