Somalia Elephant

The first silver coins featuring elephants were produced in 1999, but done so through the authorization of Zambia. It would not be until 2004 when the Somalian Elephant would make its debut on the world stage. Because the Bavarian State Mint in Munich has continued to produce these silver coins since their initial introduction, sometimes you will hear them referred to as the Zambian Elephant instead.

The Somalian Elephant features .999 quality fine silver and are considered to be legal tender in Somalia with a face value of 100 shillings. Prior to 2006, the coins had a face value of 1,000 shillings. Minted in Germany on behalf of the Somali Republic, this silver coin is produced as part of the African Wildlife Series. This means a new design is struck on the reverse side of the coin each year, although elephants are consistently featured with prominence.

Most of the silver coins produced in the African Wildlife Series are made in BU condition. You will find, however, that there are numerous other collectible options that are struck at the mint every year, such as proof and colorized versions. While the 1 Oz round is the most common, fractional coins such as 1/4 and 1/2 Oz have been produced in later years.

The mintage of the series is limited, more so in the earlier years than the later ones.. In 2012, for example, only 80,000 coins in this series were created. Yet despite this, specific mintage numbers are actually quite difficult to verify. Coins produced in 2004 or after tend to have the most accurate counts, yet between 2004-2008, it is believed that only 5,000 Somalian Elephant silver coins were produced annually.

Silver Bullion Mintage

Design

Obverse: The obverse of this silver coin is consistent, depicting the coat of arms for Somalia. This features a shield with a single star that is being held by two upright leopards, which are standing on large crossed spears below them. “SOMALI REPUBLIC” is inscribed above the shield and the face value of "100 SHILLINGS below it. The year the coin was minted is split on either side of the shield with the first two digits to the left and the last two to the right.

Reverse: The reverse of the coin features a new elephant design every year. Most designs feature elephant herds exploring the Somalian vistas that include grasslands and a sunrise or a sunset, but some feature a striking single bull elephant as well. The phrases “AFRICAN WILDLIFE” and “ELEPHANT” are inscribed on the outer rim , as is the weight and purity of the silver "1 OZ AG 999".