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The Republic of Palau is an island country in the western Pacific. It has a total area of 466 square kilometres, and an estimated population of 18,000. Politically, Palau is a presidential republic in free association with the United States, which provides defence, funding, and access to social services. The country also uses the United States Dollar as its circulation currency.
The country has also allowed some foreign mints to issue non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) coins under its authority, which are denominated in dollars but are only legal tender in Palau and not in the United States. On these, usually the "Emblem of Palau" is displayed on the obverse. This emblem is not official, since the country has no Coat of Arms or official state emblem - it only has the Seal of Palau, which looks very different.
The emblem used on coins features an ornate shield, on which is depicted the sea god Neptune, crowned and seated on a round stone and holding a trident in his left hand; on the right, a bare breasted mermaid; on the left, a treasure chest. The ground is a beach, featuring waves and a starfish. Above Neptune, a star. Below the waves, the inscription RAINBOW'S END. Above the shield is a native rowing in a single-outrigger canoe.
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