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50 Dollars Python
| Issuer | Republic of Palau |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Dollar of the United States (1992-date) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse features the coat of arms of the Republic of Palau rendered in high relief at centre, depicting a traditional figure of a man with a trident seated beside a woman against a shield, surmounted by a traditional canoe. The shield is encircled by a curved arc of eight stars. The field is treated with an obsidian black finish and decorated with a starfield motif evoking a nocturnal sky. The legend REPUBLIC OF PALAU arcs along the upper periphery, with the series title RAINBOW'S END inscribed within the coat of arms and the denomination 50$ appearing below the shield. The lower field bears the series inscription HUNTERS BY NIGHT in large incuse letters across the base, flanked by stylised rocky outcrops in relief. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a dramatic close-up portrait of a python's head viewed frontally, rendered in deeply sculpted high relief and finished in obsidian black. The coiled body of the serpent encircles the central motif, with finely detailed scale textures covering the entire field. The most striking design element is the pair of eyes, highlighted with vivid multicolour enamel application in tones of yellow, orange, and red, creating a powerful contrast against the dark monochromatic finish. The bifurcated tongue is visible at the base of the snout, adding naturalistic detail. No legends or inscriptions appear on this face; the date 2023 is the sole textual element, referenced on the obverse. |
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| Additional information |
Palau's coin-issuing program has long operated as a revenue mechanism rather than a domestic monetary instrument — the republic's actual currency is the US dollar, and these large-format silver pieces are sold directly to the collector market through licensing arrangements with European minting companies. The 2023 Python belongs to a broader series of high-relief wildlife issues produced in this commercial framework, with the New Zealand Mint among the facilities contracted for such work.
At one kilogram, the striking pressure required to achieve full relief across 100mm demands multiple annealing and pressing cycles.