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The Treasury of Palau, in conjunction with CIT, have released a new collector coin that highlights the technology of colourisation which has been applied to minting. It is also exactly 30 years ago when in 1992 CIT issued the world’s first colour coin on behalf of the Treasury of Palau. For 2022, the focus for these new coins is fittingly on the marvel of eye colour and the many subtle variations between the three predominant categories of colours of brown, green, and blue. The interest in blue eyes is somewhat highlighted by the fact that only 8-10% of all people have them. According to the latest research, the phenomenon is due to the hypothesis that between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, the eyes of a single baby did not change their natal colour after being brought into the world. This one individual retained their blue colour due to a gene mutation and so, this very baby became the ancestor of all blue-eyed people today.
The portion of the eye which shows colour is called the iris and it is also the part that regulates the pupil size, determined by the amount of light entering the eye. The iris is the most visible part and eye colour in humans ranges from the darkest shades of brown to the lightest tints of blue; this is what is usually inherited from parents through genes. The inheritance patterns of iris colour are a heavily studied area and deduced that eye colour is controlled by three basic genes.
The coins are produced by B. H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt at their facilities in Munich and are commissioned by CIT and the Treasury of Palau. The obverse side shows the entire field of the iris and pupil of a deep blue eye beautifully captured and true to life. Just below the colour design on the edge of the coin is the year of issue 2022. The reverse side includes an image of the crest of Palau centred. Above the crest is the text REPUBLIC OF PALAU, along with three stars on either side, and the coins’ denomination of $5 shown below.
| Denom. |
Metal |
Weight | Diameter | Quality |
Mintage Limit |
| Five dollars |
.999 Silver |
31.1 g | 38.6 mm | Proof with applied colour |
1,500 |
Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case with artwork emphasising the design of the blue eye featured on the obverse side and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the website of CIT.
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This coin is not authorized by the Treasury of Palau, it is not legal tender of any kind, and the purported seal on the reverse side is completely made up. This is fraud.