North Korea 1994 2000 won
This specimen was lot 3053 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 5,250 CHF (about US$7,913 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"KOREA Nordkorea "Demokratische" Volksrepublik, seit 1948. 2000 Won 1994, Pyongyang. Auf den Tod von Kim Il Song. Selten. Polierte Platte. (people's republic of Korea, since 1948, two thousand won of 1994, Pyongyang mint, on the death of Kim Il Sung. Rare, Choice Proof.)"
North Korea, being a pariah state, is not high on the list of popular countries to collect but that has not stopped the regime from striking hundreds of NCLT's. Kim Il Sung (1912-94) was the founder of the DPRK and the Kim dynasty which still rules there. The bust shown is Kim's official posthumous portrait, ubiquitous throughout the state.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 31.10 g, 0.999 fine gold, 1.000 troy oz AGW, 40 mm diameter, plain edge, this specimen 31.10 g.
Catalog reference: KM 151, Fr-15.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 101: World Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Swiss Confederate Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Shooting Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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