Austria 25 Euro Silver/Niobium (.900) Proof Coin 2017 - Microcosm - Silver Niobium Series

For Sale:
Austria 25 Euro Silver/Niobium (.900) Proof Coin 2017 - Microcosm - Silver Niobium Series

Country: Austria
Face Value: 25 Euro
Theme: Microcosm
Collection: Silver Niobium Series
Position in Series: 15th of 21 (Series Ongoing)
Composition: Niobium (.998) / Silver (.900)
Quality: Proof
Year: 2017
Weight: 16.50 g
Fine Weight: 14.85 g (0.48 Troy Oz)
Mintage: 65,000
Coin Shape: Circular
Diameter: 34.00 mm
Edge: Plain
Edge Inscription: None
Packaging: Official Box, Capsule and Outer Sleeve
Condition: See images
Certificate: Yes
Mint: Austrian Mint AG
Designer: Microcosm

Shipping Options
Only charge An Post rates (rounded up to nearest Euro)
(Will combine shipping):
* Standard Post (Ireland): €6
* Registered Post (Ireland): €10
* Collection (Bray): Free

Payment Options:
* Bank Transfer.
* PayPal.
* Revolut (Preferred).
* Cash.

Description:
Following the exploration of the cosmos in 2015, the latest edition in the Austrian Mint’s innovative and ingenious two-tone Silver Niobium series embarks on a technological journey in the opposite direction – to the microcosmos. For the past decade and a half these coins have been employing the combination of silver and niobium to explore fittingly fascinating themes ̶ the journey of scientific discovery featured on Microcosm is no exception.

Under the microscope

The means of transport for this journey is a rather unexpected one ̶ the butterfly. A shining example is found in the raspberry-red and grass-green niobium centre of the coin’s obverse. But the journey of discovery really begins on the coin’s reverse, where a microscopic view of a butterfly wing is shown at the top of the centre. Moving clockwise we go even deeper with the help of an electron microscope. But that is not the end of the expedition: the bottom half of the coin shows a cell, its structure and even its core. What makes our Silver Niobium coins so special is the fact that their niobium tones arise without the application of colour, purely through light refraction on an extremely thin, transparent oxide layer. Microcosm, like all the other coins in the series, truly glistens with knowledge.