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5 Dollars German Samoa, Essai
| Issuer | Palau |
|---|---|
| Year | 1999 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Dollars (5 USD) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Central shield depicting the coat of arms of German Samoa, divided per fess: the upper half bears the Prussian eagle with spread wings, and the lower half displays three coconut palm trees standing on a grassy ground. A ribbon banner inscribed 'Samoa' arches above the shield. The legend 'DEUTSCH' runs vertically along the left field and 'SAMOA' along the right field. A beaded border surrounds the design. |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
Palau's 1999 palladium essai issues occupy a peculiar corner of Pacific numismatics — struck speculatively during the brief window when palladium was aggressively promoted as a coinage metal by several small sovereign issuers, largely to capitalize on collector demand rather than any monetary function. The German Samoa theme references the colonial administration Germany held over Western Samoa from 1900 until New Zealand forces seized the territory in August 1914, just days after war was declared.
The palladium essai designation means this piece was never released for general circulation — a pattern strike to demonstrate the metal's suitability, with mintages typically in the low dozens.