2017-05-04 Thu

Austrian Mint introduced the 25 euro silver-niobium bimetallic coin called Microcosm. The program pays homage to science and technological innovations. The muted colours on the niobium centre of Microcosm, showcases how Austrians have used advanced technology to produce such varieties of tone in the niobium alloy.

After exploring space (Cosmology, 2015) and time (Time, 2016), the Mint has decided to give its attention to the inner space of the microscopic. Designers Helmut Andexlinger and Herbert Wähner display a butterfly and its wings at different levels of magnification.

Austria’s legal tender, the 2017 Microcosm Silver-Niobium 25 Euro Coin measures 34.00 mm in diameter and weighs 16.50 grammes. Ninety percent of the outer ring is pure silver while the centre disc is composed of primarily niobium, a soft, ductile metal when pure that is hardened by impurities.

The coin was skillfully taken care of and was struck in the Austrian Mint's Special Uncirculated finish. A total number of 65,000 pieces were struck. Every coin is wrapped in a plastic coin capsule, which fits snugly inside of a burgundy box.

The most fascinating feature on the obverse is the "raspberry-red" butterfly set against a "grass green" field on the niobium inner disc. A special oxidation process is given to it because of which the colours are produced. The Austrian Mint has been polished over the years in order to produce subtle shading.

The similarity of the green field behind the butterfly is beautifully crafted much like the scales of a butterfly's wing. The butterfly's head, thorax and abdomen are shown naturally. However, the wings have a striking resemblance to a stained glass. The butterfly's wings have a different pattern from that of the field.

Inside the inner disc, above and between, the butterfly's antennae, portrays an atomic model as created by Danish physicist Niels Bohr. Red is the colour given to the nucleus and three revolving electrons, identical to the butterfly, while the orbits are lighter green. The butterfly’s left wing partially hides a molecular model that crosses over from the left of the outer ring. The year 2017 is inscribed beneath the butterfly.

The inner niobium is surrounded by a red ring, except where the tips of the butterfly's wings interrupt it.

Made of 900 fine silver, the outer ring is divided into separate sectors and contains some designs and textures.. Starting on the left, the inscription REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH ("Republic of Austria") occupies and extends past the top left quadrant. A fibrous-looking texture is found behind it, while a ring of small rectangular blocks - a few shaded in - encircles about half of the inner portion.

The molecular model contains the denomination 25 EURO. The numerals "25" finds its spot on top of the same fibrous background as REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH, but the word "Euro" stays above another section of the outer ring where individual cells are visible.

An image of a butterfly’s wing is seen about after the word “Osterreich”. Proceeding clockwise from this image moves the viewer's eye through sections that represent higher magnifications of the same object. At the bottom of the obverse, we see individual cells. The anatomy of an animal cell is shown on the outer silver ring beneath the date 2017.