Description

The "Subtropical Zone" is the second issue of the 5-part series "Climate Zones of the World" with a color polymer ring, the series is due to end with the "Polar Zone". The color of the translucent polymer ring takes inspiration from the typical climate of each zone (red for a hot zone, violet for cold). Each of the five mints Germany shapes the coin with a polymer ring in a different shade of orange.

In 2016, the Federal Ministry of Finance of Germany issued the five-euro Planet Earth collector coin with a blue polymer ring connecting two metallic portions. It was a startling first in coin production, the innovative process having been developed by German press manufacturer Schuler AG. The transparent ring is made of a material that can be worked like metal but is actually plastic. It contains both a color pigment and security features. The joint between the polymer plastic and metal is just as strong as between the two different metals in conventional bi-metallic coins, such as the one- and two-euro coins.