Somalia's 2006 numismatic program was issued under the Transitional Federal Government, a body recognized internationally but controlling virtually no territory — Mogadishu itself was held by the Islamic Courts Union for much of that year. The coins were almost certainly produced by a European contract mint and never circulated within Somalia in any meaningful sense, making the "Somali Republic" attribution a licensing arrangement rather than a statement of monetary function.
The gold-clad-over-silver construction was a common cost-reduction technique among novelty issues of this period, giving collector pieces the appearance of gold without the expense.
Somalia's 2006 numismatic program was issued under the Transitional Federal Government, a body recognized internationally but controlling virtually no territory — Mogadishu itself was held by the Islamic Courts Union for much of that year. The coins were almost certainly produced by a European contract mint and never circulated within Somalia in any meaningful sense, making the "Somali Republic" attribution a licensing arrangement rather than a statement of monetary function.
The gold-clad-over-silver construction was a common cost-reduction technique among novelty issues of this period, giving collector pieces the appearance of gold without the expense.