One of today’s most popular silver bullion coins is the African Elephant Series. While most know these coins today as the Somalian Silver Elephant, these coins began their life as the Zambian Silver Elephant coin series. Right now, these original-issue Zambian Silver Elephant Coins are available again from JM Bullion while supplies last.
Coin Highlights:
- Arrives in a protective plastic capsule.
- 3rd issue of the Zambian Silver Elephant from the Bavarian State Mint.
- Contains 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver.
- Bears a face value of 5,000 Kwacha backed by the Bank of Zambia.
- Obverse features another new design in the African Elephant Series.
- Reverse includes the official crest of the nation of Zambia.
- Struck in Germany by a state mint.
When the Bavarian State Mint first issued the African Elephant Series coins in 1999, they were issued for the nation of Zambia. There is no information on the reason for the eventual switch to Somalia, but for the first five years the coins featured different designs to reflect Zambia before the nation of issue change.
African elephants are classified in two primary subspecies, both of which fall into the top 5 largest land mammals in the world. The bush elephant is classified as the world’s largest land mammal, while its cousin the forest elephant is smaller, but still tips the scales as the third largest land mammal in the world.
On the obverse of the 2001 1 oz Zambian Silver Elephant coin you’ll find the third design in the African Elephant series. In this image, an adult elephant wraps its trunk lovingly around the face of a young calf, leading it as the duo marches along the African savanna.
The reverse of each Zambian Silver Elephant coin bears the national shield and coat of arms for Zambia. It features a man on the left and woman on the right of the shield, with a banner below that features the national motto of “One Zambia, One Nation.” This is the last year of the Zambian Silver Elephant to feature the national crest on the reverse, with Queen Elizabeth II’s profile portrait appearing in 2002 and 2003.
Zambian Silver Elephant coins are produced by the Bavarian State Mint, which is a state-owned property of the government in the Free State of Bavaria, and serves as one of the primary mints in Germany.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask a JM Bullion customer service associate. We’re available on the phone at 800-276-6508, online using our live web chat, and via our email address.