2016-10-12 Wed

Germany celebrates 200 years of inventor Karl Drais’ dandy horse or velocipede, popularly termed as Laufmaschin in German which translates to “running machine” - the earliest version of a bicycle with the release of a special €20 coin in July 2017.

It was the world’s first mechanized personal transport medium which propelled with the feet when needed and coasted when possible.

The reverse design features the 1815 volcanic eruption in Indonesia that caused abnormal weather patterns in 1816 or the Year Without a Summer. The bad weather resulted in crop failures which led Drais to find an alternative for the horse as a means of transportation. The dandy horse and its rider appear in the foreground, with a German inscription denoting Drais and his invention.

The obverse of the 18 grams coin depicts the federal eagle, the G Mint mark, .925 silver, 12 stars of Europe, Germany, 2017 and €20. Edge lettering marks the anniversary of Drais’s invention.

Uncirculated examples are priced at the face value while Proof versions will be sold for a higher price that will be revealed just before the launch.