2500 Won Parrot

North Korea's hard currency commemorative program existed almost entirely for export — these coins were never intended for domestic circulation and were sold through foreign dealers and specialty auctions to generate foreign exchange for the regime. The 155.5g silver format places this squarely in the kilogram-class issues that proliferated among state mints in the 1990s, when the novelty of oversized silver coins still commanded strong premiums from thematic collectors.

KM#83 is one of several wildlife-themed issues the DPRK released through this period, likely produced at a European contract mint rather than domestically.