Tajikistan’s Constitution was adopted by national referendum on 6 November 1994, in the midst of the civil war, and for its tenth anniversary the National Bank issued a bimetallic 5 somoni coin. It entered circulation on 1 November 2004, just days before the anniversary.

The inner disc of the reverse shows the national flag above an image of the Constitution, a palm branch beneath them and the inscription «X SOL», «10 years», above the flag. The ring reads «KONSTITUTSIYAI JUMHURII TOJIKISTON», «Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan». The obverse carries the coat of arms and the value, with the name of the republic and the date 2004 on the golden ring.

The ring is brass and the centre cupronickel. The plain edge bears the engraved inscription «PANJ SOMONI» separated by stars. The coin was struck by the Saint Petersburg Mint in a mintage of 100,000 pieces.

Together with the 3 somoni for the 80th anniversary of Dushanbe from the same year, it stands at the start of the bimetallic commemorative somoni later continued by Kulob, fifteen years of independence and Rudaki. For a collection on post-Soviet statehood it is a coin about the document on which the modern Republic of Tajikistan rests.

Graded UNC: the coin never circulated, the two-tone relief is free of wear and the mint lustre is preserved.

A coin from the VPcoins range makes a good starting point for a themed selection or a date run.