Somaliland 2000 Silver Dragon Silver (Not CuNi) Coin

7 posts
Hi all,

I'm new to the site. What brings me here is an attempt to verify the authenticity of a coin I purchased about 8 years ago from a member of the Kitco forum.

It is a year 2000 Somaliland coin with the denomination of 15 dollars. It is marked 1 oz ag and 999, and neither Numista's coin catalog or NGC's world coin catalogue seem to acknowledge it's existence. Instead, they only list the Cu-Ni version, which bears the 5 dollars denomination (which I also have).

These two coins came to me as a set, already removed from their original packaging, and placed into those "do it yourself" holders. The previous owner labeled the Cu-Ni version as "Scales of Law MS Nickel 1 oz" and the coin in question as ""Scales of Law MS Silver 1 oz" and "6 made-rare."

The two coins have the same design, except for wording differences. I have not weighed them yet, but they have toned differently in their holders and appear to be made of different metals.

Could I have a coin that is quite rare? Possibly a pattern coin?

To begin with, are you sure it's silver? Did you try any test?

Once info is confirmed, I will add it to the catalog! :)
Catalog Master Referee & Referee for UAE
https://www.instagram.com/amer.coins
Amer Salmeh

Quote: "AmerSalmeh"To begin with, are you sure it's silver? Did you try any test?

​Once info is confirmed, I will add it to the catalog! :)
​ Thank you for the reply. It is much appreciated! No, I have not yet tested the coin in any official way. In fact, I just dug it out of storage today and decided to look up its value. What sort of test would you recommend that will not risk the numismatic value of the coin?
The non-silver version is listed by Krause (KM) in the 2005 "Unusual World Coins" volume of the SCWC as X#4 in stainless steel and only in the $5 denomination. No silver version and no denomination other than $5 is listed.

Though only occasionally updated, there is at least one more recent edition of "Unusual World Coins", which may have additional listings.

All of the official Somaliland coins listed in the 20th and 21st century SCWC volumes are denominated in shillings rather than dollars. The dollar-denominated pieces then would seem to be quasi-official or unofficial productions.
I've found similar coins in silver but dated 2012 and in shillings
250 shillings
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces39246.html
1000 shillings
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces32551.html

your coin is not listed in the latest 2011 krause unusual world coins and I couldnt find any pix online

However, I've added the coin and used your pics with your name (I hope this is fine) - could you add edge description? smooth or reeded
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces117557.html

This could possibly be a silver plated chinese coin, but also could be a rare silver one.

Other members have better knowledge of how to identify silver, so I hope someone can help with this.
if it turned out to be just plated, info on the page could be edited at any time
Catalog Master Referee & Referee for UAE
https://www.instagram.com/amer.coins
Amer Salmeh
Some additional pictures to review . . . No edge reeding. Mirror surface, purple edge toning, and different reflective properties than the CuNi coin next to it (see last pic).





Updated edge description, edge pic, and added "proof" to the year line comment
Catalog Master Referee & Referee for UAE
https://www.instagram.com/amer.coins
Amer Salmeh

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