Somalian 2001 Year of the Snake Coin

Tri-Metallic 250 Shillings Year of the Snake 2001

Obverse of Somalia Tri-Metallic 250 Shillings

Bi-Metallic Coins
Modern Bi-metallic coins seem to have started in Italy in 1982, although a small number of bi-metallic coins were produced in ancient times. They were introduced as a security feature mainly for higher values coins, to deter counterfeiting. Bi-metallic coins have now been adopted by a growing number of countries. Although most are made in two different, and differently coloured metals, some of the collector's versions are made from one metal, but with one or both parts plated with gold or silver before striking.

Manufacturing Technique
Two different blanks are produced, the larger one which will form the outer ring then has a hole punched from it. Both blanks are then fed into the coining press, usually automatically, so that they are loosely assembled before striking. The force of striking by the upper and lower dies is sufficient to force the inner blank to expand very tightly into the outer disc, so that the two parts are permanently bonded together.

Tri-Metallic Coins
The principle of tri-metallic or three part coins is similar to that of bi-metallic ones, except that there are obviously three parts instead of two. Each of the outer two parts are in the form of an anulus or ring with a hole punched from them. As with the bi-metallic coins, some of these are not strictly made of three different metals. The Somali coins for example are made of three brass parts, two of which are gold plated, and the centre piece is silver plated.

Specifications

Diameter	Denomination	Weight	Alloy
38 mms	250 Shillings	22 grams	Tri-Metallic

Prices and Availability
Both coins are available in stock for immediate despatch.

Denomination	Alloy	Price £	Price $
250 Shillings	Tri-metallic	£19.95	$29.95

2000 Somalia Millennium Icon Crowns

Somalia Coin Index

Postage & Packing:
UK: At buyer's Risk £2.50 or
Fully Insured £6 (Usually by Royal Mail Special Delivery)
USA: Airmail at buyer's risk $10 or
Fully Insured $20
For further details, please see our Postage & Packing page.

Order Form - UK
Order Form - USA
Order Form - EU
Order Form - Rest of World

2001 World Coin Sets

Order Form for UK Customers

Order Form for USA Customers

World Coin Sets - 1999 & Previous Issues

World Coin Sets - 2000 Issues

Index of Year 2001 Coins & Sets

EuroZone Members & Euro Information