Obverse. Photo © Austrian Mint
  • 25 Euro 2022, KM# 3349, Austria, Silver Niobium Coin, Extraterrestrial Life
  • 25 Euro 2022, KM# 3349, Austria, Silver Niobium Coin, Extraterrestrial Life
Description

What if there really is somebody out there? Making contact with aliens would change our whole concept of the universe. Is this really plausible or are such thoughts purely fantasy? Given that we only know a tiny part of the universe, which comprises some 100 billion galaxies, each with 100 billion stars, it is hardly surprising that we continue to ask these questions. These and other eternal questions are explored on Extraterrestrial Life, the 2022 edition of the ever-popular Silver Niobium coin.

The coin contains 9 g of 900 Fine silver in its outer ring and 6.5 g of 998 pure niobium. The coins are boxed with a certificate of authenticity and enclosed in a slipcase.

This coin was honored with the 40th Coin of the Year Award (COTY) as the best bi-metallic coin. The COTY program, initiated and held annually by Krause Publications, is aimed at recognizing achievements within the coin-producing industry. Awards are bestowed upon coins that demonstrate outstanding numismatic design, artistic creativity, and exceptional craftsmanship. An international panel of judges selects these coins from those issued two years before the year of the award ceremony.

Design: Anna Rastl

Obverse

Depicts the Webb in the silver outer ring alongside the famous Drake equation, which is aimed at calculating the probability of extraterrestrial life. The violet niobium core is dominated by an alien holding the earth in its hands like a plaything, symbolising that we may well be defenceless against them should they exist.

The James Webb Space Telescope, the largest, most powerful and complex space telescope ever built and launched into space, is designed to help us find out the answers. The telescope’s improved wavelength coverage and greater sensitivity compared with those of its predecessor, the Hubble, will enable the Webb to look much closer to the beginning of time, when the first stars and galaxies started to form, and fundamentally alter our understanding of the universe. Launched into space on 25 December 2021, since 24 January 2022 the Webb has been successfully unfolded to its operational configuration and successfully entered orbit at its target destination.

N = R x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L
25 EURO
2022 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH

Reverse

Depicts some of the factors that could favour life on other planets are represented: carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4, oxygen O2, vegetation and water. In the outer silver ring, the Webb is shown capturing an exoplanet passing in front of a star. The inscription "LIFE IN SPACE" on the left.

C02
O2
CH4
LEBEN IM
ALL

Edge

25 Euro

KM# 3349
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Silver
Center Niobium
Weight 16.5 g
Diameter 34 mm
Thickness 2.55 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Austrian Mint

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