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500 Shillings Pope John Paul II
| Issuer | Somalia |
|---|---|
| Year | 2005 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 18.84 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A circular multicolor photographic insert dominates the center of the square flan, depicting Pope John Paul II dressed in white papal vestments and white zucchetto, bowing reverently to kiss a green-covered book, generally identified as the Bible or Gospels. The surrounding border carries the legend 'THE LIFE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II' arcing along the upper portion, with the date '2005' inscribed at the base, flanked by decorative dots, all in raised Latin lettering on a gilt ground. |
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| Additional information |
Issued in the year of John Paul II's death, this piece belongs to a sprawling category of Somali commemorative coinage produced almost entirely for the collector export market — Somalia had no functioning central bank capable of commissioning domestic issues at the time. The pieces were authorized through licensing arrangements common among several African states in the 2000s, with the actual production contracted to European mints and distributors.
Silver-plated copper-nickel on a commemorative of this type signals a budget souvenir tier rather than a serious numismatic release.