Catalog
500 Shillings D-Day Bullet, Left side
| Issuer | Bank of Tanzania |
|---|---|
| Year | 2019 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | 75TH ANNIVERSARY TANZANIA 500 SHILLINGS 2019 |
| Reverse description | The reverse face of this sculptural coin presents the smooth, rounded exterior of the right lateral half of a full-metal-jacket pistol cartridge, faithfully reproduced in antique-finished .999 fine silver. The surface is largely unadorned, replicating the plain cylindrical case body and domed projectile tip of an authentic cartridge, with the characteristic extractor groove and rim detail rendered at the base. The antique finish imparts a weathered, aged appearance consistent with the D-Day commemorative theme. No additional legends or devices appear on this face, allowing the three-dimensional sculptural form to serve as the primary artistic statement. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Tanzania's entry into the commemorative bullion market has been dominated by novelty formats, and this piece — housing an actual WWII-era bullet projectile embedded in the coin — is among the more literal interpretations of battlefield commemoration. The 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019 prompted a wave of issues from mints worldwide, most of them licensing arrangements with small sovereign issuers whose connection to Normandy is purely administrative.
The bullet itself is sourced and authenticated separately from the coin blank, with production handled by a European private mint operating under a Bank of Tanzania licensing agreement — a now-common arrangement for African sovereign novelty issues.