Palau has issued commemorative coinage under licensing arrangements since the 1990s, with most production handled by European mints — primarily the Hamburger Münze — rather than any domestic facility. The Year of the Dragon series was aimed squarely at the Southeast Asian collector market, where lunar cycle issues from small-nation licensors were aggressively marketed throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Mintages for these pieces were typically controlled to a few thousand, though secondary market absorption has been uneven.
The selective gilding was applied post-strike, a finishing technique that became nearly ubiquitous in this segment of the commemorative market around 2010.
Palau has issued commemorative coinage under licensing arrangements since the 1990s, with most production handled by European mints — primarily the Hamburger Münze — rather than any domestic facility. The Year of the Dragon series was aimed squarely at the Southeast Asian collector market, where lunar cycle issues from small-nation licensors were aggressively marketed throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Mintages for these pieces were typically controlled to a few thousand, though secondary market absorption has been uneven.
The selective gilding was applied post-strike, a finishing technique that became nearly ubiquitous in this segment of the commemorative market around 2010.