Obverse. Photo © Monetnik.ru
  • 3 Euro 2024, Austria, Luminous Marine Life, Yellow Stingray
  • 3 Euro 2024, Austria, Luminous Marine Life, Yellow Stingray
  • 3 Euro 2024, Austria, Luminous Marine Life, Yellow Stingray, Colour effect when exposed to ultraviolet light
Description

To celebrate the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the Austria Mint embarked on an undersea adventure showcasing the fascinating and colorful underwater world. With a mintage of 65,000, the series featured 12 innovative 3 euro colored coins, four of which were issued each year over three years. These coins not only captivated with their design but also featured special lighting effects.

The sea creatures depicted on the coins, despite seeming improbable and magical, truly existed. Many lived in the deep seas' perpetual darkness, where sunlight never reached, yet they possessed extraordinary luminous qualities—flashing, sparkling, glowing, and changing color as needed.

Similarly, the coins themselves glowed under ultraviolet light, sparking excitement and scientific curiosity. A dedicated ultraviolet torch allowed collectors to experience the enchanting creatures of Luminous Marine Life in their full, radiant glory.

Design: Kathrin Kuntner, Rebecca Wilding

Obverse

Depicts all 12 of the magical sea creatures in the Luminous Marine Life series in silhouette. Air bubbles up between them and a tail fin disappears beneath the waves to the right. Surrounded by the country name and the denomination.

REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH
3 EURO

Reverse

Depicts a wide band reminiscent of an old-fashioned porthole, that frames an aquatic scene and features a yellow stingray in the center. A pair of tropical fish and a tube sponge can be seen in the background. When the coin is illuminated with ultraviolet light, the doctorfish begins to glow green and slightly bluish.

The yellow stingray (Urobatis jamaicensis) is a small, round-bodied ray found in the warm coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It typically inhabits shallow waters with sandy or seagrass beds, where its mottled yellow, brown, and green coloration provides excellent camouflage. This ray can grow up to 35 cm (14 inches) across and feeds primarily on small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Although generally docile, the yellow stingray has a venomous barb on its tail used for self-defense, which can cause painful stings in humans. It is a solitary species and not considered a major conservation concern, though habitat loss and human activities can impact local populations.

JAMAICA-STECHROCHEN
2024

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 16 g
Diameter 34 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Austrian Mint

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