Tajikistan marked fifteen years of independence in 2006 with a bimetallic 5 somoni coin whose centre shows the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe, the national flag on its dome, set against a map of the country. Above the building is the inscription «XV-SOL», with the dates «1991–2006» below.

The left half of the reverse ring carries the words on independence, «ISTIQLOLIYATI TOJIKISTON», and the right half a national ornament. The obverse follows the style of the commemorative series: the coat of arms, a large numeral 5 and the word «somoni» between ornaments, with «JUMHURII TOJIKISTON» and the date on the ring.

The circulation mintage was 100,000 pieces; at the same time the National Bank issued a .925 silver proof coin with the same design, limited to 2,000 pieces. The bimetallic version, with a cupronickel centre and brass ring, was struck at the Saint Petersburg Mint.

For a collection devoted to the independence anniversaries of the post-Soviet republics, this is the central coin of the Tajik section: it presents the country through its principal state building and its map.

Graded UNC: the coin never circulated, the fine details of the palace and the map are untouched by wear, and the mint lustre is preserved.

A themed selection that includes this coin is easy to expand with other items from the VPcoins catalogue.