The world's first 'tri-material coin', 5 euro coin 'Blue Planet Earth' will be available on Thursday. The new coin has a transparent, glinting blue plastic ring in the center, which is to offer the euro coins better protection against counterfeiting in the future.
A total of around 1.5 million coins are issued in mint condition and 250,000 coins are issued as a limited collector's item as "Blue Planet Earth" Proof Like finish, the Proof Like Finish coins are no longer available due to high demand.
The coin's smooth edge is embossed with the inscription:
"BLAUER PLANET ERDE - BLAUER PLANET ERDE" (Blue Planet Earth)
The artists Stefan Klein and Olaf Neumann from Iserlohn, Germany, designed the coin while the eagle figure is based on a template created by Alina Hoyer from Berlin.
The jury explained their decision as follows.
"The (...) design stands out thanks to its clear style and the very successful realisation of the specified subject "Planet Earth". Earth is depicted in the inner circle with its continents shown as dotted masses. The clever posi-tioning of the Earth's surface right next to the polymer ring fulfils two functions: The blue ring encircles the planet in such a way that the viewer instinctively thinks of it as the Earth's atmosphere. Additionally, the ring represents the link between Earth and the cosmos. The various sizes of the depicted celestial bodies reflect the diversity of astronomical objects..."
The reverse features an eagle framed by the words "BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND", the value and de-nomination, the year 2016, the twelve stars of Europe and the mint mark "A" (Berlin), "D" (Munich), "F" (Stuttgart), "G" (Karlsruhe) or "J" (Hamburg), depending on where the coin was minted.
Technical Specifications:
Theme: "Planet Earth"
Artist: Stefan Klein and Olaf Neumann, Iserlohn; Alina Hoyer, Berlin (Adler)
Issue date: 14th April 2016
Mints: Berlin (A), Munich (D), Stuttgart (F), Karlsruhe (G), Hamburg (J)
Weight: 9 grams
Diameter: ca. 27,25 mm
Material: Cu75Ni25, Cu81Ni19, polymer ring (five different shades of blue)
Nominal: 5 €
Mintage: Proof Like Finish: limited to max. 250,000; uncirculated: approximately 1,500,000
The mint condition coins are still available at German Sales Agency for Collector’s Coins www.deutsche-sammlermuenzen.de.
