The Beauty of the Universe Coin Series:
The "Uncharted Universe" Coin Series:
includes/will include the undernoted Coins:
2024 – Supernova (first coin)
2025 – Einstein Ring (second coin)
2026 – Cat’s Eye Nebula (third coin)
2027 – Gravitational Wave
2028 – Protostar
Not just impressive, the discovery of the Cat’s Eye Nebula by the German-British astronomer Wilhelm Herschel (1738–1822) on 15 February 1786 helped turn what had been merely an assumption in physics into an immutable law.
The nebula is estimated to be around 1,000 years old and is a visual "fossil record" of the dynamics and late evolution of a dying star.
Indeed, despite appearing mysteriously misty, veiled and softly focused on this extraordinarily shaped and coloured coin, the Cat’s Eye Nebula, also known as NGC 6543, has provided modern science with crystal-clear insights.
Such a planetary nebula is formed when a star similar to our Sun, with no more than a few solar masses, reaches the end of its activity and becomes a red giant.
The core contracts, the star’s envelope swells and pulsates, and with each pulse parts of the star’s atmosphere and outer layers are blown into space. The ejected matter is gaseous, has a temperature of about 10,000 kelvin and moves away from the star in all directions at several dozen kilometres per second.
NGC 6543 was the first planetary nebula to be studied in detail using spectroscopy. Making it possible for scientists to deduce its composition from the light emitted by the celestial body, this contributed to the insight that all observable celestial bodies consist of the same chemical elements as the Earth.
This, in turn, led to an enormous gain in knowledge as it supported the scientific assumption that the laws of physics are the same throughout the universe. To date, no discovery has been made that casts the slightest doubt on this assumption.
Before the (cosmic) law, we are all equal.
Coin Design:
The Reverse of the 20 Euro Silver Coin.
The Obverse of the 20 Euro Silver Coin:
Flat in the centre, Cat’s Eye Nebula curves upwards towards the edge in several waves.
The main motif on the coin’s obverse is a stylised representation of the Cat’s Eye Nebula.
NGC 6543 refers to the New General Catalogue from 1888, which contains all deep sky objects known at the time of its publication.
The inscription 3300 Lj indicates the distance of the Cat’s Eye Nebula from Earth.
The coordinates Right Ascension: 17h 58m 33.4s and Declination: +66° 37´ 59’’ indicate the position of the celestial body. The coin’s reverse is printed with a coloured interpretation of the Cat’s Eye Nebula.
The peripheral inscriptions are - "REPUBLIK OSTERREICH" (on the top periphery) and "20 EURO" (on the bottom periphery).
The Specifications of this Silver Coin are:
Date of Issue: 14 May 2026
Coin Quality: Proof (P)
Coin Series: "The Beauty of the Universe"
Face Value/Denomination: 20 Euro
Diameter/Size: 34.00 mm
Coin Designer: Mag. Helmut Andexlinger
Metal Composition:/Alloy: Sterling Silver Ag 925
Fine Weight: 20.74 g / 0.67 oz
Total Weight: 22.42 g
Packaging: Comes in a case complete with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and protective slipcase
Mintage (Proof): 30,000 pieces
A Collector Case for the entire Series:
The Beauty of the Universe Coin Series:
The "Uncharted Universe" Coin Series:
Links to "Star Gazers - In the Stars Coin Series:
3) Sub-Tropical Climate Zone: ("Climate Zones of Earth Coin Series"): The second "tri-material" Coin in the Series - with an outer ring, inner core and an embossable orange polymer ring, innivative coin issued by the Federal Republic of Germany on 26.04.2018
4) In the Air: A 10 Euro Coin: The first Coin in the 3-coin Bimetal/Polymer coin "Tri-material" Coin Series titled "Air Moves", to be issued in April 2019
Links:New Year Lucky Coin Releases by the Austrian Mint, Vienna:
Posts on Indian Railways:
1) Celebrating 150 Years of serving the Indian Nation by the Railways in 2002-03
2) "Fairy Queen": MyStamps (issued by India Post): Rajeev
Posts on United Kingdom Railways:
Japanese Railways:
Posts on Romanian Locomotives/Trains:
Posts on Czechoslovakia Trains:
Posts on Trains Stamps from Spain:
Links to Posts on Trains to Curacao on this Blog:
Links to Posts on Trains in Canada:
Links to Posts on Trains from Serbia:
Links to Coins on Railways from Austria:
Links to Posts from Austria & Germany:
Links to "Mythical Creatures" Coin Series:
Links to "Star Gazers - In the Stars Coin Series:
Links to "Luminous Marine Life" Coin Series:
Links on this Blog to posts on the Venus of Willendorf figurine:
The Beauty of the Universe Coin Series:
Links to "The White Gold of Hallstatt" Coin Series:
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
More posts on insect world on this blog:
i) Beetles: A set of five Post Cards issued by Chennai Postal Circle of India Post in 2017
ii) Lady Bug Beetles: A set of four Commemorative stamps brought out by India Post on 23.02.2017
Crypto Stamps with NFT:
i) Beetles: A set of five Post Cards issued by Chennai Postal Circle of India Post in 2017
ii) Lady Bug Beetles: A set of four Commemorative stamps brought out by India Post on 23.02.2017
Posts on "Wonderful World of Insects":
Links to "Luminous Marine Life" Coin Series:
Posts on "Wonderful World of Insects":
Runes:
Posts on Grimm's Fairy Tales on this Blog:
Links to "Luminous Marine Life" Coin Series:
Links: Crypto-Currency Stamps & Coin Posts:
Related Links on this Blog:






Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for sharing this informative post."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
Delete